NewsLine staff
The Nassau County School District has completed its formal investigation into student conduct during a Sept. 10 girls’ varsity volleyball match between Fernandina Beach High School and Jacksonville’s Andrew Jackson High School, issuing a public apology while determining that reports of racial slurs could not be substantiated.
The match drew regional scrutiny after concerns arose over the actions of spectators in the Fernandina Beach student section, including the display of a Black baby doll in the stands.
According to district findings released Tuesday, Sept. 15, the doll in question was issued to a Fernandina Beach High student as part of an academic parenting class assignment. The student brought the doll to the gymnasium in a baby carrier as required by coursework.
Investigators concluded that during the match, other students removed the doll from the carrier, and two students were observed holding it in the air and shouting.
While district officials noted that a review of photographs, video recordings, official Florida High School Athletic Association match reports, and witness interviews did not corroborate allegations that racial slurs were spoken, administrators condemned the overall behavior.
“The absence of substantiated racial slurs does not make the other described acts acceptable,” the district said in its statement.
Nassau County Superintendent Dr. Kathy Knight Burns conferred directly with Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier throughout the inquiry.
The district confirmed that students who violated the Student Code of Conduct have been identified and face internal discipline. Federal student privacy statutes prevent the release of individual names or specific disciplinary measures.
In response to the incident, district leadership announced increased event supervision, tighter crowd management protocols, and instructional programming focused on leadership and community standards for the student body. District and school leaders also plan to hold joint events bringing student leaders and athletes from both schools together to rebuild relationships.
Official Statement from the Nassau County School District
The following is the complete statement released by the Nassau County School District on Sept. 15, 2026:
Nassau County School District Provides Update Following Fernandina Beach High School and Andrew Jackson High School Volleyball Match
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. | Sept. 15, 2026
The Nassau County School District has completed its investigation of the student conduct that occurred during the Sept. 10 girls’ volleyball match between Fernandina Beach High School and Andrew Jackson High School.
We want to begin by speaking directly to the students, coaches, families, and school community of Andrew Jackson High School. We are deeply sorry for the events that occurred in our gym, along with the hurt and distress it caused. Students and guests who enter a Nassau County school should be treated with dignity and respect, which was not demonstrated during this event.
Immediately upon being notified of these troubling reports, district and school administrators began conducting an investigation that included a review of all available photographs, videos, interviews, and statements from individuals who were present. In addition, we have been in consistent communication with Duval County Public Schools and reviewed the official FHSAA report submitted following the match. Superintendent Dr. Kathy Knight Burns and Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier also remained in communication as the districts worked to fully understand the events.
The investigation revealed that a student taking a parenting class at Fernandina Beach High School was issued the black doll as part of a school assignment. The student brought the doll to the game in a baby carrier, as required by the assignment. At several points during the game, other students took the doll out of the carrier. Two students are seen, at separate times, holding the doll in the air and shouting. Fernandina Beach High School and Nassau County School District deem this conduct inappropriate and unacceptable. The review did not substantiate reports that racial slurs were spoken during the match based on the video, statements, and other information reviewed. However, the absence of substantiated racial slurs does not make the other described acts acceptable.
The district has identified the students whose conduct violated the Nassau County School District Student Code of Conduct, and those matters are being addressed in accordance with district procedures. Federal student privacy laws limit what the district may disclose publicly about individual students or disciplinary actions.
Accountability, however, cannot end with individual consequences. Nassau County School District and Fernandina Beach High School are taking additional steps following this incident. Athletic event supervision, security, and crowd management procedures are being reviewed and strengthened to help ensure students, staff, families, visiting teams, and guests experience a safe and welcoming environment at district events. School and district leaders are also reviewing expectations and response procedures for administrators and staff supervising athletic events so concerns can be identified and addressed quickly and appropriately.
To ensure appropriate conduct at future athletic events hosted by Fernandina Beach High School, in addition to an increase in supervision at all events, our student body will receive instruction and participate in activities which reinforce community standards, build leadership skills, and promote respect for all.
Fernandina Beach High School and Andrew Jackson High School administrators are working together on opportunities to bring student leaders and student-athletes from both schools together. Our goal is not simply to move beyond what happened, but to learn from it, rebuild trust, and strengthen the relationship between our school communities.
We extend our sincere apology to the entire Andrew Jackson High School community, particularly the student-athletes, coaches, and families who were affected.
Every student-athlete, team, family, and guest who comes to a Nassau County School District campus should know they are welcome, respected, and safe. We are committed to doing the work necessary to ensure that expectation is reflected at every Nassau County school and every Nassau County athletic event.
