William Penn School District restores several Penn Wood fall sports; football remains suspended

The William Penn School District on Monday brought back several Penn Wood High School fall sports teams it had suspended last week, but football stayed on hold while an outside firm investigates alleged misconduct, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY and NBC10.

The teams cleared to resume are cheer, boys soccer, boys and girls cross country, volleyball and girls tennis, though the tennis season has already ended, the outlets reported. The district said the decision followed a review of responses to a climate and culture survey given to fall student-athletes over the weekend and on Monday. The Inquirer noted the district gave no timeline for football's possible return and did not address middle school athletics in Monday's announcement.

The Delaware County district first halted all high school athletics on Thursday, citing an alleged incident that it said involves culture and climate in athletics. On Friday it extended the pause to middle school sports. The district has not publicly described the incident or said which team was involved.

NBC10 reported that parents, students and a staff member at the high school said the matter concerned alleged hazing on one of the teams. The district has not confirmed that account. In a Friday update cited by WHYY, the district referred to student-athlete conduct that would breach board policies if proven by a preponderance of the evidence.

"We do not yet have all the answers," the district said in that Friday statement, according to WHYY.

Students at Penn Wood High School and the Penn Wood Ninth Grade Academy walked out of class Friday to protest the suspensions. NBC10 reported that protesters said they supported any potential victims and wanted those responsible held accountable, but argued that athletes not involved should not be penalized.

The district said it has hired Grand River Solutions, a California-based consulting firm that handles harassment and discrimination investigations, to coordinate its response and look into specific allegations. It is also reviewing athletic operations. A survey of fall coaches is underway, and each coach must review district policies and show proof of participating in that process before coaching again, WHYY and NBC10 reported.

The district, which enrolls about 4,500 students from Aldan, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Lansdowne and Yeadon, announced the changes ahead of a Monday night school board meeting, WHYY reported.

The suspensions follow a case in the Cheltenham School District in Montgomery County, where four former football coaches and six student players were criminally charged in connection with alleged locker room hazing in 2025, according to the Inquirer and WHYY.

Compiled by True News from reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY and NBC10 Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/258