California school district investigating racist comments allegedly made by softball players
Principal Gina Aguilar acknowledged the school received a report of offensive and racist comments made during a group chat involving several players on the team, which is playing in a CIF-SS championship game Friday night.
The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District this month began an investigation into alleged racist comments made by players on the Esperanza High softball team during a group chat in May, the Southern California News Group has learned.
Esperanza High principal Gina Aguilar acknowledged in school communication that the school received a report of offensive and racist comments made during conversations among a group of players on the team.
Aguilar’s communication also mentioned student discipline and the retention of a law firm to conduct an investigation.
Aguilar didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.
The school district released a statement Friday morning: “The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District was made aware of an incident that took place involving players on the Esperanza High School softball team. Both district and school officials promptly addressed the matter pursuant to the district’s established discipline procedures. Student discipline matters are confidential and the district cannot share additional information.
“As an additional measure, the district hired an independent investigator to conduct a thorough review to ensure that this incident was properly addressed.”
The statement added that “our school district condemns any form of discrimination and harassment” and that a “safe and respectful environment is absolutely essential to student success.”
The Aztecs’ softball team (21-3) is set to play Roosevelt in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final at Deanna Manning Stadium on Friday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Last month, Esperanza defeated Villa Park 1-0 in a crucial Crestview League game without several of its top players, including five starters. The Aztecs’ five missing players did not attend the contest.
Esperanza coach Ed Tunstall said at the May 20 game that the players were “just unavailable” and added he couldn’t comment further.
Tunstall also said the Aztecs forfeited a game on May 18 against El Dorado because it didn’t have enough players.
He didn’t respond to a message Thursday about the investigation.
On May 19, Esperanza girls athletic director Keri Walters told the players and families in the softball program in an e-mail that the administration was made aware of “inappropriate comments made during school hours in a group chat among varsity softball players.”
Walters added that the “dialogue included in the group chat violated our school district’s code of conduct as well as our athletic code of conduct, a document all student athletes read and sign prior to participating in sports at Esperanza High School. It states: ‘All participants must commit to exemplary conduct and behavior as a representative of the school, district, and community.’ The families of players who acted contrary to this code have already been contacted by administration to explain next steps.”
Walters didn’t mention the content of the group chat but said the conversation had a “indisputably negative impact on our team and players.”
The forfeit is the last loss on Esperanza’s record. The Aztecs have notched seven consecutive victories, including an upset of No. 1 seed Norco in the semifinals and a win against Murrieta Mesa in 11 innings in the quarterfinals.