Ouachita Parish School System employee no longer employed by district following published racist MLK Day text

Ouachita Parish School System
Ouachita Parish School System

This story has been updated with additional information.

An Ouachita Parish School System employee is no longer employed by the district following the release of offensive text messages on social media.

A text thread between an Ouachita Parish Junior High School coach and office secretary Nelwyn Fontana was published on Facebook on Friday. In the thread, Fontana made a racist comment in reference to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day while informing the coach of its players being out of school for the holiday.

"[Racial slur] day lol mark Luther king"

The coach, appearing to be shocked by the text, replied, "Huh? Say what? Where did that come from?"

Fontana proceeded to remind the coach that the school system would be out due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

"Remind your plays Sunday where off Monday. For Mark Luther king day Monday"

She continued, "Players I ment"

In a later text, she apologized to the coach saying, "I'm very sorry coach I didn't mean to send that first text to u please forgive me."

Ouachita Parish Superintendent Don Coker confirmed that Fontana is no longer employed by the school board.

Ouachita Parish Junior High School principal Darren Wheeler addressed the incident in the following statement on Monday.

"Unfortunately, on Friday evening, a text message which contained a racial slur from an employee was brought to our attention," Wheeler said. "That employee is no longer employed by the Ouachita Parish School System. We do not condone any form of racism in our schools and community."

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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Ouachita Parish School System employee out over racist MLK Day text