Central Kentucky high school football player seeks transfer over racial bullying

A high school football player who was subjected to bullying and racism at one school is seeking a ruling from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association over whether he can transfer and play in an adjoining county.

Kayla Higgins said — and school and KHSAA records confirm — that her son Camdon Higgins, who is biracial, endured bullying that was racial at Anderson County High School.

“He was constantly called the n-word — it was nonstop. They would tell him, go pick cotton, that they don’t need his kind there … told him to go hang himself a few times,” Higgins said.

Anderson County Schools officials, in a letter to the KHSAA, confirmed one incident of bullying of a racial nature.

Higgins said Cam and his brother Calen Higgins, who endured racial bullying in Anderson County to a lesser degree, transferred to Western Hills High School last spring in adjoining Franklin County after the family began renting in Franklin County and planned to play football in the fall.

The boys found out after transferring to Western Hills that the KHSAA had not yet approved their playing football this fall.

The KHSAA transfer rule requires a player to wait a year to play if they played varsity in that sport in the previous year (after the student enrolled in the ninth grade at the former school). There are several “exceptions” set forth in the bylaw that could waive the period of ineligibility. Examples of some of the exceptions include a bonafide change in address, divorce, and change of custody, said KHSAA General Counsel Chad Collins. According to the rule, there is also an anti-bullying exception.

The origin school, referred to as the “sending school,” has no power to hold up a transfer. The process requires both the sending school and the “receiving school” to submit information when a student is requesting a waiver. A ruling officer then reviews the request and potentially asks for further information from the family or schools. Afterward, the ruling officer makes an initial ruling based on all the information gathered and the provisions set forth in the bylaw.

After the initial ruling any party (either the school or the family) can appeal the initial ruling.

The KHSAA had not ruled as of Monday whether the brothers could compete at their new school. But KHSAA hearing officer Roger Crittenden recommended in a Sept. 22 document — following a Sept. 11 hearing — that a KHSAA ineligibility determination be overturned and that Camdon and Calen Higgins be eligible to participate in interscholastic varsity athletics.

Meanwhile, seven games into Western Hills’ 10-game regular season, the Higgins brothers are still not eligible to play.

The KHSAA says it cannot comment on the progress of ongoing cases.

The recommendation said Camdon Higgins, 16, is in 11th grade. Calen Higgins, 15, is in 10th grade. They transferred from Anderson County to Western Hills in April.

“There is no evidence of recruitment by representatives of Western Hills High School prior to Camdon and Calen’s enrollment,” Crittenden said in the recommendation.

Testimony indicated that the Higgins family moved from the residence of Kayla Higgins’ parents in the Anderson County School District to a leased residence in the Franklin County High School district on March 29, 2023.

“Ms. Higgins testified this move was made to remove Camdon from Anderson County High School because of previous racially inspired incidents,” the recommendation said. “Camdon and his then girlfriend had been the subjects of a physical threat from another Anderson County student in December 2021.“

“This incident was reported to Anderson County High School officials and immediate action was taken,” the KHSAA hearing officer wrote. “Charges were brought against the threatening student and he did not return to Anderson County High School. Apparently, Camdon continued to receive racially inspired remarks during the fall of 2022 and into 2023. These were not reported to Anderson County High School officials. Camdon told his mother it would just get worse.”

“The testimony indicates the family moved to Franklin County for school related, but not athletically related reasons. The testimony also indicates that, when given the opportunity, Anderson County school officials acted promptly and responsibly,” the hearing officer wrote.

Western Hills Principal Ryan King in an Aug. 23 letter asked the KHSAA to reconsider a determination of ineligibility the school received from the KHSAA on Aug. 15.

“Calen and Camdon’s reason for transferring away from Anderson County is simple — bullying. The Higgins brothers sought to escape a bombardment of racially ... charged threats via confrontations, texts as well as social media posts that occurred over time at Anderson County High School and have continued even after their transfer at the hands of the same ACHS students,” King said in the letter.

“There is a pending decision regarding a transfer and we are following the Association procedures on making that decision,” Collins said Friday about Higgins’ case.

Collins said he could not comment on certain details

“Because this pertains to a student, and the file and decision are all part of the student’s education records, we are also constrained by FERPA and K-FERPA and the associated restrictions on disclosure of these records,” Collins said.

Once an independent hearing officer issues a recommended order, each party (both schools and the family) has the right to file “exceptions” to the recommended order for 15 days (from the date the recommended order is mailed to the parties).

The KHSAA is bound by state law and may not act on any recommended order until the exception period is over. Once that period is over, the KHSAA must act within 15 days (of the deadline to file exceptions), he said.

An Oct. 2 letter that Anderson County High School athletic director Jesse Currens, superintendent Sheila Mitchell and principal Chris Glass sent to KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett confirms one incident of racism and bullying and said the student who made the inappropriate comment was not allowed to return to school.

“In regards to the primary incident of racism/bullying referenced by Camdon and Kayla Higgins. We want to be sure that it is evident that another student received the messages and that student’s parent reported the incident to Anderson County High School Administration. That is the only incident of racial intolerance or bullying reported to Anderson County High School Administration,” the letter said.

“There have been no reports made by either student since December of 2021 that required disciplinary action or an investigation, this includes reports of racism or bullying,” the letter said.

“Anderson County High School Administration along with our School’s Resource Officer responded promptly to the allegations of racial intolerance and bullying. Both of the above parties communicated with the families and ensured that both families were informed of the progress as legally allowed to share. In addition to these communications the district communicated with both families that the student that had made inappropriate comments would not be returning to school,” the letter continued.

“While we understand that the circumstances are unfortunate, our intention in all handlings with students at Anderson County Schools is for their safety, their betterment, and to provide all students the best opportunities possible,” the letter said. “If the Commissioner chooses to waive the Bylaw, we hope Camdon and Calen Higgins have the best in all they pursue. However, we want to be sure that all parties are aware that the boys were treated fairly and with respect at Anderson County Schools.”

The letter raised questions about the family’s residency.

The boy’s younger sister still attends an elementary school in Anderson County because Kayla Higgins works nearby and their grandparents who live in Anderson County babysit her, Higgins said. Kayla Higgins provided a text from Franklin County schools showing they had investigated and confirmed the family’s lease for a new address in Franklin County and the sister’s out of district enrollment application, allowing her to attend school in Anderson County.

Mitchell, the superintendent, told the Herald-Leader on Friday that “Anderson County did not oppose the transfer nor did we file (for) a hearing. We asked for the exceptions to be considered in the final ruling by the commissioner for factual accuracy.“

“The Anderson County Schools did not oppose the students’ eligibility, but we did oppose the false accusation that ongoing bullying and racial name calling was ignored by our school,” Mitchell said.

“We’re glad the KHSAA hearing officer acknowledged the Anderson County Schools acted promptly responsibly when a report was made on December 2021, and we appreciate the family acknowledging during the hearing that no other reports of this activity were shared with ACHS officials,” Mitchell said.

She said Anderson County did not make any ruling. That is up to the KHSAA.

As a sophomore in 2022, Cam Higgins played in eight of 11 games and led Anderson County in rushing with 866 yards and 11 touchdowns and receiving with 177 yards and one TD. He also recorded 14 tackles. The Bearcats went 2-9 last season.

Calen Higgins played in 10 of 11 games and recorded nine tackles.