LANSDOWNE, Pa. (WPVI) — Delaware County student-athletes are speaking out after the William Penn School District abruptly suspended all athletic activities at Penn Wood High School and Penn Wood Middle School.
District officials announced the pause after receiving reports of what they described as “an alleged incident” involving student-athletes.
The district has appointed an independent investigator to examine the culture and climate of the athletic program and determine whether any conduct violated district policies.
On Friday, students gathered to protest the decision.
“If no one plays sports, then I feel like Penn Wood is nothing,” said student Demi Hillfinks.
“We are undefeated at the moment, and it’s unfair. This school team is like family to me,” added student Wilber Olivet Suchite.
In a statement, the school district said it received “information of conduct involving student-athletes that, if proven by a preponderance of the evidence, would violate school board policies.”
Officials said no conclusions have been reached.
“This matter requires a thorough external investigation, and we are finalizing an agreement with an investigator who can fairly gather and evaluate the evidence in light of district policy,” the statement continued.
The suspension comes at a critical time for several teams. Members of the men’s soccer team said they are devastated by the start of the playoffs next week.
“We haven’t been to the playoffs in over 15 years, and they’re taking that away from us,” Suchite said.
Volleyball players also expressed concern, noting that athletic opportunities can impact college recruiting and scholarship chances.
“People depend on scholarships. People use sports as an escape, and depriving them of this scholarship can really ruin their lives,” Halima Waritay said.
Parents also expressed frustration and called for more transparency from the district.
“This is our kids’ way to go to college,” parent Shadaya Williams said. “The majority of us can’t afford to put our boys through college, so you’ve taken away their future, and that’s not fair.”
Friday evening, the district released an additional statement acknowledging the concerns raised by students and families.
Officials stressed that the suspension is not intended to be permanent and said they plan to meet with students as the investigation progresses.
The district also said it is taking steps to resume athletic activities with safeguards and measures in place to address concerns while the review continues.
The district says families are also encouraged to share positive experiences within Penn Wood Athletics by emailing communications@wpsd.k12.pa.us. They said this feedback can help them understand what is working well and what they want to strengthen.
Read the latest statement released by the school district below:
Today, October 16, students at Penn Wood High School-GAC and Ninth Grade Academy participated in walkouts. We listen to the voices of our students and recognize their right to peaceful protest under the First Amendment. We have taken a coordinated community approach, with student safety as our priority, and will continue to balance student rights and safety in our response.
As we shared yesterday, the district received information about conduct involving student-athletes that, if proven by a preponderance of the evidence, would violate board policies. No conclusions have been drawn. This matter requires a thorough external investigation and we are finalizing an agreement with an investigator who can fairly collect and evaluate evidence in light of district policy.
We recognize the disappointment and legitimate concerns caused by the suspension of athletics. The district made a difficult decision out of concern for the safety of athletes and the culture and climate of our programs. We understand that the suspension affects students and families in our athletic programs. It is not intended to be permanent.
Our first step is to listen to students, as they will play an active role in helping us understand their experiences and identify ways to support safe and positive school-sponsored activities. We will begin the investigation process this weekend.
We are taking steps to resume athletic programs with measures in place to address our current concerns. By assessing each team’s culture and climate, we will identify areas for improvement and close any gaps in safety measures. Teams may resume activities when the district determines that appropriate measures are in place to ensure the safety of students.
We don’t have all the answers yet. We strive to understand concerns, hear students, and fulfill our responsibility to provide a safe and supportive environment, consistent with school board policies and applicable laws. We appreciate the community’s patience as this process moves forward and will share updates as possible.
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