WPIAL finds Brentwood did not use racial slurs, took 'swift' action

After a three-hour hearing to address accusations of racial taunting at the Monessen-Brentwood Feb. 3 boys' basketball game, the WPIAL Board of Control announced today in a statement that it made "no specific findings" that any students, players or fans from Brentwood "in fact used racial slurs or engaged in racially insensitive behavior."

The incident gained national attention after two Brentwood students dressed in banana costumes, and the predominantly black and bi-racial Monessen team claimed to be the subject of shouts of "monkeys" and "cotton pickers" during the Section 3-AA game, which Monessen won, 59-45.

The WPIAL imposed no punishments on either school, saying that it found that Brentwood Borough school district officials "took swift, decisive and appropriate action in addressing the limited disturbances that took place prior to, during or after the game" by ejecting and suspending the two students who wore banana costumes after they ran onto the court, which is in violation of school and league rules.

Instead, the WPIAL directed Brentwood and Monessen school officials to work together to formulate a joint action plan to promote sportsmanship and prevent the use of racial slurs and racial intimidation from occurring again.

The following is the WPIAL statement on that plan:

"In the light of the above findings, the Board directed the Brentwood and Monessen principals to work cooperatively together with each other and their student bodies in formulating an action plan designed to a) promote the spirit of sportsmanship that the WPIAL expects at all contests; b) promote the fact that all individuals must be treated with dignity and respect at all WPIAL contests; b) make clear that Brentwood, Monessen and the WPIAL will not tolerate the use of racial slurs or other forms of racial intimidation at WPIAL contests; and c) make clear to students and student-athletes that the use or racial slurs or other forms of racial intimidation at WPIAL contests will lead to their immediate ejection from a contest and perhaps other disciplinary measures."

The school districts, which compete in the same section in other sports, have until June 1 to submit the plan for the WPIAL Board's review and approval.

The Brentwood Borough school district posted a statement on its website saying that the WPIAL's findings "fairly much vindicate the district's position that no racist activity took place."

"The findings state that any media accounts that banana-costumed students used racial slurs or engaged in racial intimidation were grossly unfair and inaccurate. In particular, Brentwood administrators and school police personnel acted appropriately and decisively in addressing any incidents at the game.

"More important, the District welcomes WPIAL's direction that Brentwood and Monessen High Schools formulate a joint plan designed to promote sportsmanship and eliminate the possibilities of racial slurs or intimidation at WPIAL contests. The Brentwood Borough School District, its Directors, Administrators and Students look forward to implementing the lessons learned from this matter for the benefit of the Brentwood community and for all schools in the WPIAL community."

Monessen superintendent Linda Marcolini was disappointed by the WPIAL board's decision, and said the school district is weighing whether to appeal to the PIAA, the state's governing body for high school athletics.

"They didn't do much of anything," Marcolini said. "They want both schools to come together to write an action plan. I thank the WPIAL for that because I do want to work and come to a resolve. That being said, when I walked into the meeting and saw that Brentwood had all kind of video, screens and posters, some of these last-minute changes about the hearing that occurred Friday afternoon I need to address with my people because that gave them an unfair advantage."

This article was written by Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE.