Valley Center students disciplined, some reports ‘exaggerated, inaccurate,’ principals say

An investigation into reports of racism and other inappropriate actions at a Valley Center High School home basketball game against Topeka High School led to several Valley Center students being disciplined, according to a joint statement sent out Friday by the school districts.

The reports led to online threats that caused Valley Center Public Schools to keep students home on Wednesday. Some of those reports were true, but “numerous reports ... (were) exaggerated and/or inaccurate,” THS principal Rebecca Morrisey and Valley Center principal Bruce Lolling said in the statement.

“This has led to responses from both communities that have become inflamed and disappointing,” they said. “This is not appropriate, does not provide for a productive environment where true change can occur, and is currently being addressed by the schools and communities appropriately.”

In the statement, the principals said Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law, prevents them from saying how the students were disciplined. The statement also didn’t say what was exaggerated and/or inaccurate, and a Valley Center spokesperson did not reply to The Eagle for more information.

Topeka basketball coach Geo Lyons said Valley Center students said the N-word, and told players on the Topeka High School boys basketball team that they would be hung. A video shared on social media by Topeka girls basketball player Jo’Mhara Benning shows a Valley Center High School student held up a Black baby doll during the game and students said “He’s a (expletive)“ as a Topeka player shot a free throw.

Valley Center previously said students involved in inappropriate chants were removed from the game.

Anger over the reports of what happened during the Dec. 3 game led to online threats against Valley Center schools on Tuesday night. The district closed schools on Wednesday but reopened Thursday with some changes, including more police in and around the schools and additional officers at home and away athletic events.

“Valley Center and Topeka High Schools are committed to work together to repair the harm that has been done, and to take actions both separately and together that will lead to positive and productive change with regards to addressing sportsmanship and racism,” the statement said. “We truly believe that this incident can be used by both schools and communities, to provide an opportunity for education, growth and partnership.”