Announcing the completion of its investigation, the Nassau County School District on Sept. 15 reported no evidence of racist language but issued undisclosed punishments for what it called "inappropriate and unacceptable" fan behavior during a Sept. 10 high school volleyball match between Jackson and Fernandina Beach.
The incident, which included the lifting and waving of a dark-skinned baby doll in the crowd by members of the Fernandina Beach student section, had drawn criticism from Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, several Duval County public officials and the Jacksonville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The match also prompted allegations of racial slurs and gestures, which Nassau County's statement
said were not substantiated following a review of videos, photographs, interviews, statements and the official Florida High School Athletic Association report.
However, the school district said the actions of two students in "holding the doll in the air and shouting" were "inappropriate and unacceptable." In its statement, Nassau officials apologized to Jackson students, coaches and families for the "hurt and distress" caused, and said that "dignity and respect" were not demonstrated during the event.
The school district did not disclose punishments issued to the students that the county said violated its code of conduct, citing federal student privacy regulations.
Nassau County's investigation determined that the doll was issued to a Fernandina Beach student for a school parenting class assignment and was brought to the gym in a baby carrier under the requirements of that assignment.
A Fernandina Beach parent, in a Sept. 15 message to the Times-Union, said the doll's use was not specific to the Jackson match and had previously appeared, lifted in a similar manner, during the Pirates' previous Sept. 8 volleyball match against Baldwin. Video from the NFHS Network feed of the Baldwin match shows a small group of fans waving a similar object following the 1-hour, 36-minute mark and at several points afterward.
Since the match, Jackson volleyball has received messages of support from representatives of multiple Duval County schools, and a Sept. 11 social media post to the athletic department's Instagram page said the school was "proud of our Andrew Jackson volleyball team. Our students displayed class, composure, maturity and sportsmanship throughout a very difficult circumstance."
The school district's statement said that Fernandina Beach will be implementing activities to promote leadership and respect, and said administrators from both the school and from Jackson are working to "learn from it [the incident], rebuild trust, and strengthen the relationship between our school communities."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Nassau County: Volleyball incident 'inappropriate', denies racial slurs
