'Mom, they're calling us the N-word': Norfolk Public Schools suspended by NSAA after incident Share Updated: 8:35 PM CST Feb 26, 2021 Share Updated: 8:35 PM CST Feb 26, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript ALEXANDRA: OUR BIG STORY TONIGHT, RACIAL SLURS, HURLED AT THE OMAHA NORTHWEST GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM LEAD TO NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEING PLACED ON PROBATION. DAVID: THIS COMES AS THE NEBRASKA SCHOOLS ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLOSES ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE FEBRUARY 11 GAME, WHERE SOMEONE IN THE STANDS IS SAID TO HAVE USED THE N-WORD. THE NORFOLK COACH, SUPERINTENDENT, AND OTHERS SENT A CARD TO NORTHWEST’S TEAM TO APOLOGIZE. BUT AS KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S QUANECIA FRASER REPORTS, THE APOLOGY DIDN’T STOP DISCIPLINARY ACTION >> SHE SAID "MOM, THEY’RE CALLING US THE N-WORD." WAVERLE: TAHNEE MARKUSSEN SAYS HER DAUGHTER, NORTHWEST SOPHOMORE POINTGUARD, TAYLOR, HAD JUST FINISHED A BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST NORFOLK HIGH SCHOOL. >> NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO HEAR WHAT THOSE GIRLS HEARD. WAVERLE: WHEN SHE AND OTHER TEAMMATES HEARD THE RACIAL SLUR FROM THE STANDS. >> AND THE CHEERLEADERS FOLLOWED THEM BACK. SHE SAID THE CHEERLEADERS TRIED. YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED TO GIVE THEM A HUG. THEY COULDN’T GIVE THEM A HUG BECAUSE OF COVID. THOSE CHEERLEADERS WERE REALLY UPSET. WAVERLE: IN THE WAKE OF THE FEBRUARY 11 GAME, OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUBMITTED A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE NEBRASKA SCHOOLS ACTIVTIES ASSOCIATION. >> NOBODY WANTS TO GO THROUGH THIS, AND NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THORUGH THIS. WAVERLE: KETV NEWSWATCH 7 SPOKE WITH THE NSAA WEDNESDAY ONE DAY BEFORE THEY COMPLETED THEIR INVESTIGATION. >> IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THIS YEAR, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST FORMAL COMPLAINT THAT WE’VE RECEIVED. >> EVER? LIKE, THIS IS THE FIRST? >> ALL I CAN SAY IS, IN MY THREE YEARS, YES. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE WE’VE RECIEVED ON THIS. >> NSAA DIRECTOR JAY BELLAR SAYS NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS BELIEVES THE SLUR WAS SAID, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHO SAID IT >> THEY HAD A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION, THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT THEY THOUGHT COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS. QUANECIA: BELLAR SAID WHEN AN ALLEGATION LIKE THIS IS MADE, A FORMAL COMPLAINT FROM THE DISTRICT MUST BE SENT BEFORE THEY INVESTIGATE. >> WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A LONG LOOK AT WHAT WE DO AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYBODY. QUANECIA: AS FOR MARKUSSEN, SHE WANTS HER DAUGHTER AND THE OTHER NORTHWEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO KNOW THAT A RACIAL SLUR -- >> THAT’S NOT WHO SHE IS, BECAUSE, CLEARLY, THEY’RE TRYING TO USE IT AS A DERAGATORY TERM. -- DEROGATORY TERM. QUANECIA: WILL NEVER DEFINE WHO THEY ARE. >> I WANT THESE GIRLS TO KNOW THAT THEY’RE NOT LESS THAN, AND RIGHT NOW, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT WORKS AGAINST THEM, AND NOT FOR THEM. QUANECIA: QUANECIA FRASER, KETV NEWSWATCH 7. ALEXANDRA: BELLAR SAYS NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE ON NOTICE UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. IF THE DISTRICT GETS ANOTHER FORMAL COMPLAINT, THEY’LL FACE FURTHER DISCIPLINARY ACTION. DAVID: BELLAR SAYS NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ALSO NEED TO IMPLEMENT MULTI-CULTURAL EDUCATION PLAN FOR GRADES K-12 AND MEET WITH THE NSAA ON AUGUST 1. NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFERED AN APOLOGY THURSDAY WITH AN AD IN THE NEWSPAPER. IT’S SIGNED BY STUDENTS, STAFF, AND THE ADMINISTRATION, AND SAYS, "NO PERSON SHOULD EVER BE SUBJECTED TO RACISM AND DEROGATORY COMMENTS. WE ARE DEEPLY SORRY YOU HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AS A GUEST IN OUR SCHOOL THE SCHOOL GOES ON TO SAY IT DOESN’T WANT THE INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY, "IT IS NOT WHO WE STRIVE TO