A racist social media photograph has caused uproar at an Idaho high school and its community.

Troy Easterday, superintendent for Salmon School District 291, announced an investigation Tuesday (Sept. 26) into the photo of six Salmon High School students wearing T-shirts that spell out the n-word, as they stand behind a mixed-race girl lying on the ground. The social media post was deleted.

“I am well aware of the current situation happening within a social media post by our Salmon School District students,” Easterday says in a video. “At this time, our administrative team at the Salmon School District is investigating this post and will keep the community aware within the legal confounds of the law.”

Easterday said school officials reprimanded the students, East Idaho News reports.

“The Salmon School District, we do not condone, nor ever have what was expressed in the social media post. Disciplinary action at this time, has been taken,” the superintendent said.

Students told Easterday that the post was “not maliciously” made, station KTVB reported. Still, many parents were outraged, saying that racist behavior had happened in the past and went unpunished. But Easterday said he was unaware of a similar situation that he hasn’t taken seriously since becoming superintendent.

"Our team did not hesitate to act. We did all the right legal steps to make sure disciplinary action was taken,” he said, adding that the district also informed law enforcement and the school board.

Some parents were concerned about this latest racist incident and questioned whether the school district would punish the students.

“The post is disgusting and a hate crime. I’m ashamed and embarrassed. My husband is one of two, maybe three African Americans in this town. I’m afraid if I said too much it would affect my job or my small business,” a mother who worries every day about her mixed-raced children’s safety told East Idaho News.

Another resident said racism is pervasive and contemplated removing her children from the school district.

“The reason why there’s hate in this community is because no one does anything about it. Period,” she told East Idaho News. “These kids are old enough to know right from wrong. Parents, do better. But you can’t blame the parents for this, because some of them are 18. They’re adults. It’s disturbing.”