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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated at 1:56 p.m. Richland Source temporarily disabled it as we conducted further reporting. This version of the story includes a statement from Ontario’s superintendent and provides mental health resources for those struggling with this or a similar issue.
ONTARIO — Ontario Supt. Keith Strickler said the district is conducting an investigation into allegations that coaches failed to fulfill their duty as mandatory reporters after learning of a sexting incident involving student athletes.
“At Ontario Local Schools, we take student safety and well-being very seriously,” Strickler said in a statement. “We are completing a thorough investigation of this incident, which involved discussions with students, parents, and coaching staff.
“The safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority. As a result of the investigation, we are taking necessary personnel actions regarding the involved coaches.”
Strickler’s remarks came after a board meeting Tuesday night, when three parents and a community member requested the dismissal of varsity girls swim coaches Deb Henry and Brooke Trumpower.
Minutes from Ontario’s October 2023 board meeting show Henry was hired as varsity head swim coach and Trumpower was hired as varsity swim assistant coach, as well as middle school swim head coach.
Neither coach could be reached for comment at the time of publication.
Parents allege coaches mishandled a sensitive situation
Parents and swim team members alleged two members of the team took nude photos in the school locker room and the images were later distributed to other students. They also said the photos may include other members of the swim team changing clothes in the background.
Parents asked for the coaches to be fired for failing to take proper action after they found out about the photos. One student said she discussed the photos with a coach in December, multiple parents referenced conversations with coaches throughout the month of January.
Richland Source is withholding the names of the students and parents who spoke to protect the privacy of minors who might be involved in the incident.
One mother shook as she stood at the podium. Her daughter, a member of the swim team, reached over to hold her hand as she spoke.
The mother said classmates have told her daughter she was in the background of one of the photos in a partial state of undress.
“She has to go through school every day, walking the halls, not knowing which boy has seen her picture,” she said. “It has to stop. I need help. We need some sort of resolution.”
Two members of the girls swim team told board members the team has been subject to bullying and mental health strain because of the photos.
“Our team has been treated so differently by everyone — by our coaches, by people at school — we’re just treated like we’re nothing,” one said.
Others vouch for coaches’ character
Other members of the public spoke on the coaches’ behalf, saying they weren’t familiar with the circumstances but could attest to Henry and Trumpower’s respective character.
Sam VanCura told board members he’d been involved with Ontario’s swim team for 20 years and knew both coaches.
“I don’t know what was presented before, I’m not privy to all that knowledge, but I will say this — the coaches that I’ve known spend about 20 hours a week for four months to get to know kids,” he said.
“They always do, in my opinion, everything that they can to make better adults out of the kids that come through our program.”
Brent Smith has a son on the high school team and daughter on the middle school team.
“I don’t know if any mistakes were made along the way. I don’t know what protocol was followed,” he said. “But I do know (Henry and Trumpower) both to be good human beings who are looking out for the best interest of the kids on the team.”
The father of one of the girls who took the photo also addressed the board. He said he and his wife pulled their daughter out of school and off the swim team once they found out about the incident.
He also said he believed school officials responded appropriately.
“As far as we know, this was acted upon by the school. It was reported,” he said. “Coach Deb and Coach Trumpower did what they were supposed to do based off of what they knew at the time they knew it.
“The girls were informed right way. They took action to protect the team.”
He also said per his daughter, no other students were in the background of the photo.
“We still don’t know what kind of pictures were taken. We have no proof,” he said. “My daughter says they were taken in a fashion where there was nobody behind them.”
“On behalf of my wife and I, we apologize to all the parents. My daughter has already reached out to the students via text and apologized for what she did.”
Administrators say incident was reported to law enforcement
Tina Evans identified herself as a former swim parent and retired counselor. She also criticized the coaches’ handling of the matter and said she was very concerned about the girls on the team — including the ones who snapped the photos.
“What makes me so sad about this is that adolescent behavior is usually a cry for attention or help. Girls doing this is not typical social behavior. And they were denied immediate intervention for this,” she said.
Evans also questioned athletic director Jeff Fisher’s handling of the situation, prompting a response from Supt. Keith Strickler.
“What you said about Mr. Fisher, that’s not fair,” he said. “It was reported as soon as the administration found out about it.”
Strickler later said the district has been handling the situation and law enforcement has been notified.
“We are looking into it. There will be more to come,” he said. “We’re going to be fair as we look at all of this. We’re going to treat everybody fairly and with respect and dignity.”
Strickler said district leaders are committed to addressing the situation with care and sensitivity.
“We understand that this incident may have impacted students, families, and staff in different ways. Ontario Local Schools is committed to upholding the highest standards of respect and privacy,” the superintendent said.
“We will continue to take steps to reinforce these values within our school community and to implement concrete measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.”