Local school embroiled in controversy

Students turned away from University Christian for alleged disciplinary problems

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At a time when most students are enjoying their summer break, three students at University Christian School are now searching for a new school for next year.

That's because the school sent letters to the girls, who were members of the school's basketball team that made it to the state semifinals last year, telling them they could not return for the next school year.

Multiple parents said that their daughters received the letters in the mail recently. The letters said that because of attitude problems, the school will not be inviting them back for the next school year.

The parents said this is the first time they have heard anything from the school about behavioral or attitude issues with their students, and they said they are worried that they are not getting the entire story.

Parents said the letter was sent to three of the five members of the girls' basketball team who hadn't graduated from the school. It reads, "Our administrative team has found her attitude toward school and unwillingness to follow policies to be significantly lacking." 

Read: School letter to parents turning away students

"I've never received a phone call from the school to say ‘Your daughter has a problem at school' or ‘She's not willing to follow the rules,' or ‘Can we meet?'" Kenya Rogers, whose daughter received the letter from the school, said.

Kenya Rogers' daughter, Cekari Rogers, said that being a part of last year's team, who went 29-2 and made it to the state Final Four in Lakeland, was something she hoped to be able to do again next year as a senior. She said that the letter caught her by surprise when she first saw it.

"Never been to the office, had a conversation with administration. So I'm not sure where it came from," Cekari Rogers, a former student at University Christian School, said. "It's upsetting, because I really want an explanation. If I did something wrong, I would like to know that, but I can't recall any."

Fred Bentley said that his daughter, who was also on the basketball team, was an honor roll student and, like Kenya Rogers, he never had any contact with the school about discipline. He also said that he hasn't received much of a response from the school since getting the letter.

"I have to think that there was some ulterior motive, because if your attitude or your behavior is so bad to the point that you didn't want them to come back to the school, this couldn't have just happened, you know. So how do you go the entire year without saying anything?" Bentley said.

Because of how late the letter was received, Cekari Rogers is now unsure where she will spend her senior year.

"It just completely threw off my plans. I was going into senior year excited, ready to graduate. It just completely derailed it. They sent the letter so late that I missed the magnet deadline, and I can't apply for a magnet school," Cekari Rogers said.

The school did release a statement from Heath Niven, head of University Christian School, that said, "This is not a new practice for us. We are continuously reviewing these student progress in all areas of being a student. We sent letters to more than just these three girls basketball players. We have high standards at University Christian, and we will not bend or ease those standards in any case."