Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent Tom Dolan said Tuesday night that an incident involving inappropriate language following a girls basketball game between Elmont Memorial and Roslyn High School is being investigated by both districts.
Dolan said the incident, which he called “disappointing and disturbing” took place after the Friday, Dec. 15 game and involved language that may have been directed at Elmont players. The superintendent said during his board of education report that the district spoke to the student-athletes who were impacted and “confirmed their well-being.”
“There are allegations of inappropriate behavior and comments being made by students and parents and interviews are ongoing that will get us to the truth,” Dolan said.
Dolan clarified that the incident did not occur during the game or involve athlete misbehavior, took place following the Roslyn win over Elmont at Roslyn High School and was “exacerbated by hard-fought basketball” and officiating that “was questioned by some.”
Dolan, who has served as the superintendent of the Great Neck and North Shore school district, told board members he will follow up with a report on the incident by the end of the week.
During public comment, Elmont PTSA President Lynette Battle said district parents have told her that they “appreciate the way the school has responded to the incident.”
This is at least the second incident that is being investigated by the school district following a basketball game in the last two years.
In December 2021, a racist incident took place during an Elmont Junior Varsity girls basketball game at Wellington C. Mepham High School in Bellmore. A spectator made racist taunts to the Elmont players with bananas and remarks, school officials said.
According to the New York State Education Department, Elmont Memorial’s enrollment is approximately 62% black or African American.
Then-Sewanhaka Superintendent James Grossane said the Bellmore-Merrick District quickly identified the responsible student, took action and issued an apology he called eloquent, heartfelt and sincere.