FMHS cancels remainder of baseball season amid accusations of racism

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Fort Myers High School canceled the remainder of its regular baseball season following a Title VI investigation into allegations of racism in the program.

The canceled season comes after a racial slur in a text message resulted in the removal of two coaches from their positions, followed by a $500 fine.

The highs and lows of the FMHS 2023 baseball season have changed with the seasons.

“Incidents that do not reflect the values ​​of Fort Myers High School,” FMHS Principal Robert Butz said.

Until the end of their season, Butz sent a voicemail message to the entire school community on Thursday, after a week, and really, two months, of absolute turmoil.

FMHS also sent an email to the families of the school’s baseball team announcing the cancellation of the season.

FMHS Director Dr. Robert Butz sent the following email to parents of students in the baseball program:

“Good afternoon,

After meeting with each college baseball family and evaluating our options for the remainder of the season, I must inform you that I have made the decision to cancel the remainder of our regular baseball season and district games. It was not an easy decision to make, but the current status of our squad and coaching staff does not offer us a viable path for the rest of this season. It’s an unfortunate situation and I wish we all used the extra time to process what happened this season. Our staff will also be working on ways to facilitate recovery for our players. Additional information will be provided within the next week. »

“I think it was overdone. Especially in this area – the kids on this team, black, white or whatever. The seniors on this team were looking for that little boost playing ball and possibly getting a scholarship,” said Gwyn Gittens, former Lee County School Board member.

Gittens was watching and is a former school board member. Gittens served on the board of trustees during previous investigations into allegations that the district violated students’ constitutional rights.

“Every time there was something of that nature that came up, it was like I was EF Hutton. Everyone would, you know, look at me. Everyone would be like, ‘Oh, I know that. “She has something to say, ‘NO! I’m not the quintessential black person,” Gittens said. “There are millions of other people who look like me. I don’t know how they think. I know how I think!

And she thinks the past two months the Title VI investigation into the baseball program may be taking longer than expected.

“It was one of the things that made my blood boil,” Gittens said. “Whenever they didn’t want to discuss something, they would all of a sudden open an investigation and say ‘Oh, we can’t talk, it’s under investigation!

For the record, the school district said it would speak to WINK News once the investigation is complete.

The school announced it had a counselor on campus Friday to help students who may need healing after the events of the past few months.

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