At the urging of at least one school board member, Rootstown Superintendent Andrew Hawkins prevented disciplinary action against a football player who hurled racial slurs against teammates in violation of team rules, leading two coaches to resign and shattering community trust in school leadership.
At an emotional Board of Education meeting in the high school cafeteria, a parade of angry community members criticized the administration’s failure to create a safe environment for students. Several called for Hawkins and some board members to resign.
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