A union representative is refuting the allegations that Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert made racist and antisemitic remarks in an audio recording circulating on social media, suggesting that the content was fabricated using artificial intelligence.
The recording, initially shared on the Instagram account murder_ink_baltimore, has triggered an investigation by the Baltimore County Public Schools.
Kyria Joseph, the executive director of the BCPS Department of Schools, informed the Pikesville High School community via email about the existence of the alleged recording involving Principal Eiswert making derogatory comments about certain students and staff at PHS. The Office of Investigations within BCPS has been alerted and is actively looking into the matter. While details are limited due to the nature of the issue being a personnel concern, Joseph has assured the community of providing updates as the investigation progresses.
In the recording, the individual can be heard referring to “ungrateful Black kids who can’t test their way out of a paper bag.” Furthermore, the speaker questions the academic performance of these students and mentions staff members by name, suggesting they should not have been hired. The speaker also expresses frustration towards receiving complaints from individuals in the Jewish community.
Billy Burke, the executive director of the Council of Administrative and Supervisory Employees representing Baltimore County administrators, has stated that the voice in the recording does not belong to Eiswert. Burke believes that the voice was artificially generated, emphasizing that Eiswert did not make those remarks.
Burke expressed empathy for the situation, acknowledging the potential impact on Eiswert. He mentioned that Eiswert disavows the comments attributed to him in the recording.
The attention of Baltimore County Council Chairman Izzy Patoka was drawn to the investigation following the emergence of the recording.
Superintendent Myriam Rogers condemned the offensive nature of the comments in the recording, describing them as highly inappropriate and not aligned with the school system’s values. An investigation has been initiated to address the matter promptly.
Danita Tolson, president of Baltimore County’s NAACP chapter, expressed disappointment at the alleged comments, particularly considering the timing close to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She emphasized the need for accountability and consequences if Eiswert is found responsible for the statements.
Richard Forno, co-director of the Center for Cybersecurity at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, advised caution in drawing conclusions in such situations. He highlighted the ease with which technology can manipulate audio recordings and cautioned against rushing to judgment before verifying the authenticity of the content.
