N-Word Used At Coatesville School Board Meeting Addressing Racism At North Penn Game

A Coatesville Area School District school board member is under fire after using the n-word in a recent meeting discussing the importance of academics over athletics.

The slur came during the board meeting on November 22 as she argued against a student in his fifth year of high school being allowed to play basketball.

"There's always an (expletive) in the woodpile," said Deborah Thompson, who is African-American.

Thompson took to Facebook to apologize and clarify her meaning. She said that she was quoting a 1982 white Coatesville board member who had said the same thing. At the time, Thompson said she led marches and rallies against that board member until he resigned.

"I will apologize to those who either misunderstood me or take offense," Thompson wrote. "I was speaking about a lingering midset then till now regarding minority athletes and especially black athletes related to their need to be successful in academics and appropriate conduct."

The comments came just after Coatesville filed a formal report with the NAACP about individuals from North Penn hurling racial slurs at Coatesville during a football game on November 18.

“It can never ever be that we stand by when people treat each other this way...We won't stand for this," said Superintendent Cathy Taschner.

In a statement emailed to Patch on Tuesday, North Penn said that they were investigating the incident.

"NPSD is investigating complaints of inappropriate behavior at its November18th football game with Coatesville Area Senior High School," the district said. "The superintendents of both school districts have discussed the matter and are working with their staffs to determine next steps and whether the allegations have merit."

Taschner said that complaints had also been filed with U.S. Department of Justice, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

"At North Penn High School and in all of North Penn’s schools it is important that our students be respectful of others whether in the classroom, after school or at a football game," the district's statement continued. "Sportsmanship is an important lesson of life and school athletics. Allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct are taken seriously and will not be tolerated if determined to be true."

North Penn is comprised of mostly white students. African-Americans make up about a third of Coatesville's student body.

Image courtesy Coatesville School District.