DEVINE, Texas -- Most middle school take-home permission slips are about field trips. But the one in Devine is asking if students can talk with federal investigators.
Although the population in Devine is 60 percent Hispanic, the middle school girls volleyball team is not.
Some of the girls' parents complained to the Department of Education about discrimination, alleging there is a large amount of white girls that make up the A team compared to the heavily Hispanic B team.
And it has this small town of 4,400 talking about racial disparity.
Next week the Department of Education is sending investigators to interview the girls who attended practice and tryouts.
So, the school's superintendent issued letters and permission slips asking seventh and eighth grade girls to meet with investigators to discuss whether they "experienced or witnessed any separation of students by race."
Ninth grade former volleyball A-teamer, Jodee Wofford, says all federal agents will discover is a fair program based on athleticism, grades, and desire.
"There's a lot of girls that have a lot of talent. And they filled their spot on that team," said Wofford. "And if they're not good enough, they're not going to get there."
In a letter to KENS 5, the Devine Independent School District says their superintendent's separate investigation found no evidence to support charges of discrimination.
"Nobody has ever ruled anyone out," says Desta Wofford. "Nobody has done anything unfair."
But others in town welcome the coming federal review.
"I've got seven kids that have gone to school there. Over the years it seems like there is discrimination in Devine. It's a good school to go to and everything, but you know, there is. You can tell that there is," said Devine resident Jose Villanueva.
The Department of Education is expected to show up next Tuesday.
