(KNX 1070) -- Some parents say they're worried about the safety of their children after nine students at a junior high school in Ojai apparently laid down together in a field in the shape of a swastika.
Administrators from Matilija Junior High School sent a letter to parents just before winter break, saying the students were apparently part of a group chat that included racist and threatening commentary.
The school says it's reached out to police, parents told the Los Angeles Times that they need to be involved as well.
In the Dec. 14 letter, administrators wrote that 12 students took part in a group chat that included racist, sexually inappropriate and threatening conversation, including a written threat about bringing knives to school.
“It brings us great pain to share with you, reprehensible student actions that have taken place over the course of the last few weeks,” the letter, from the principal and vice principal, said.
One parent told the L.A. Times, “It’s crazy that nine kids could lay on a playground with 400 kids and teachers everywhere and no one see it.” Adding that there is “subtle racism” in the city. Ojai is 91.4% white, 12.1% Latino and 0.5% black, according to census data.