Student-athletes in Delaware County 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 information about 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 athletics program and determine whether conduct occurred that violated district policies.
On Friday, students gathered to protest the decision.
"If nobody has sports, then I feel like Penn Wood is nothing," said student Demi Hillfinks.
"We're undefeated right now, and it's unfair. This school team is like a family to me," added student Wilber Olivet Suchite.
In a statement, the school district said it has received "information about conduct involving student-athletes that, if proven by a preponderance of the evidence, would violate Board policies."
Officials said no conclusions have been reached.
"This matter requires a thorough outside investigation, and we are finalizing an agreement with an investigator who can fairly gather and evaluate evidence in light of District policy," the statement continued.
The suspension comes at a critical time for several teams. Members of the boys' soccer team said they are devastated with the playoffs set to begin next week.
"In over 15 years we haven't made playoffs, and they're taking this away from us," Suchite said.
Volleyball players also expressed concern, noting that athletic opportunities can impact college recruitment and scholarship chances.
"People have scholarships they depend on. People use sports to get away from things, and taking this away can really mess things up for them," said Halima Waritay.
Parents also voiced frustration and called for more transparency from the district.
"This is our children's way to go to college," said parent Shadaya Williams. "Majority of us cannot afford for our boys to go to college, so really you took their future away from them, and that's not fair."
Late Friday, the district issued an additional statement acknowledging the concerns raised by students and families.
Officials emphasized that the suspension is not intended to be permanent and said they plan to meet with students as the investigation moves forward.
The district also said it is taking steps to resume athletic activities with safeguards and measures in place to address its concerns while the review continues.
The district says families are also invited 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 16th, students at Penn Wood High School-GAC and the Ninth Grade Academy participated in walkouts. We are listening to the voices of our students and recognize their right to peacefully protest under the First Amendment. We took a coordinated community approach, with student safety as our priority, and will continue to balance students' rights and safety in our response.
As we shared yesterday, the District has received information about conduct involving student-athletes that, if proven by a preponderance of the evidence, would violate Board policies. No conclusions have been reached. This matter requires a thorough outside investigation, and we are finalizing an agreement with an investigator who can fairly gather 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 athlete safety and the culture and climate of our programs. We understand that the suspension affects students and families across our athletic programs. It is not intended to be permanent.
Our first step is to hear from students as they will have an active role in helping us understand their experiences and identify ways to support safe, positive school-sponsored activities. We will begin the survey process this weekend.
We are taking steps toward resuming athletic programs with measures in place to address our current concerns. As we evaluate each team's culture and climate, we will identify areas for improvement and address any gaps in safety precautions. Teams may resume activities when the District determines that appropriate measures are in place to support student safety.
We do not yet have all the answers. We are working to understand the concerns, hear from students, and meet our responsibility to provide a safe and positive environment in compliance with Board policies and applicable laws. We appreciate the community's patience as this process moves forward and will share updates as we are able.