Dozens of parents, students and others attended the school board meeting this week in Dover, New Hampshire to weigh in on a teacher who was suspended after students sang a KKK-themed rendition of Jingle Bells in class.

Over 100 folks flocked to the Dover high School auditorium, where more than 35 people addressed the school board about a video posted online last week that showed students singing the racist song in history teacher John Carver’s class, Fosters reports.

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Carver was placed on paid leave and the district is currently investigating the incident.

Those who spoke at the meeting were split about the situation, with some supporting the teacher and insisting he should be reinstated and others calling for his termination. People on both sides remained peaceful and respectful at the meeting, with many urging the district to use the incident as a “teachable moment.”

Former student Ryan Haden told the board that besides his own father, Carver has had the biggest impact on his life.

“This man can bring positive change to the community,” he said.

Kristine Baber blamed Carver for failing to step in to stop the students’ jingle, and alleged it’s simply the latest example of persistent problems with racism in Dover, including many “that have not been videotaped.”

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“I’m grateful to the school board to listen to many of our neighbors, our friends and other Dover residents to share their feelings,” she said.

Cy Carver, the teacher’s son, also addressed the board to explain that the assignment tasked students with putting history to jingles, a curriculum he’s used throughout his 20-year teaching career that was approved by the administration, Fosters reports.

“As an employer, it’s time to support your employee,” he said. “I want him to know we are proud of him and we love him.”

Many others testified about the positive influence Carver has had on the school and students, as a baseball coach, teacher, mentor and advocate.

The New Hampshire Union-Leader reports:

The song about the Ku Klux Klan was set to ‘Jingle Bells’ and included lyrics about killing black people. It was created as part of a two-way assignment where one group of students was asked to research the KKK and write something about the Civil War Reconstruction period using the popular Christmas carol.

A video of the song surfaced last week after an offended student, Chloe Harris, shared it online. Harris told NBC Boston she had gone to teacher John Carver and told him she was not comfortable about the lyrics, a conversation that reportedly took place before class.

Harris was instructed not to videotape the presentation, and told reporters she did so because she wasn’t sure anyone would believe it happened.

In the video posted online, students can be heard laughing out loud as the presenters sing “KKK, KKK, let’s kill all the blacks … burn the cross on their front yards and hope they don’t come back.”

Dover Superintendent William Harbron alerted the community about the “serious issue involving racism and discrimination” in a letter to the community and has vowed a thorough investigation before deciding Carver’s fate.

He told the Union-Leader he plans to meet with the local NAACP and the school’s “community engagement coaches” before making a determination.

“This is a complex issue with no fast or easy answers, and the district is working hard to make sure that this matter is addressed efficiently and thoroughly,” he said.