<\/p>\n
Fresno Unified School District board member Keshia Thomas during a swearing in ceremony at the district\u2019s nutrition services facility on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.<\/p>\n
CRAIG KOHLRUSS<\/p>\n
ckohlruss@fresnobee.com<\/p>\n
Facing calls to resign, Fresno Unified trustee Keshia Thomas issued a formal apology Monday to the man she accused of using a racial slur against her son and who later filed a lawsuit against her.<\/p>\n
Don Arax, a former football coach and educator at Bullard High School, sued Thomas and the Fresno Unified School District for defamation. The case remains active.<\/p>\n
Mr. Arax, I sincerely apologize to you and your family. I believed the information I had at the time, but I have since learned that the information I relied upon was not accurate.<\/p>\n
Keshia Thomas<\/p>\n
Fresno Unified School Board Trustee<\/p>\n
In a 2022 podcast, Thomas \u2014 a school board member and current Fresno City Council candidate \u2014 alleged Arax used a racial epithet against her son.<\/p>\n
But in a statement to the media last week, her son, Albert Alford Jr. \u2014 now an adult \u2014 said he was not truthful with his mother about the 2013 incident at a football camp. At the time, Alford was in middle school, hoping to play for Arax and Bullard. He alleged Arax used a racial slur against him, and shared that information with his mother.<\/p>\n
In July, in a sworn court statement known as a declaration, Alford said he never told anyone \u2014 including his mother \u2014 Arax used a racial slur.<\/p>\n
As a result of the revelation, the Fresno Teachers Association called for her to resign<\/a>. The union said she lost trust with the community for the way she handled the lawsuit.<\/p>\n In her 13-paragraph statement released Monday afternoon<\/a>, Thomas said she took her son seriously. She made the formal apology in the sixth paragraph of her statement.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Arax, I sincerely apologize to you and your family. I believed the information I had at the time, but I have since learned that the information I relied upon was not accurate. Had I known then what I know today, I would not have made those statements. I cannot undo what I said, but I can acknowledge what I know today, take responsibility for the words I spoke and offer you the apology you deserve,\u201d Thomas wrote.<\/p>\n As a school board member, Thomas said she believed she had a responsibility to make all students feel safe. \u201cMy concern was not only for my son, but for every child entrusted to our schools,\u201d Thomas said in her statement.<\/p>\n Apology not accepted<\/p>\n Brian Whelan, attorney for Don Arax, did not accept Thomas\u2019 apology, in a statement to The Bee.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not an apology. It is the latest version of a story that finally ran out of places to go,\u201d Whelan said.<\/p>\n Whelan faulted Thomas for not saying \u201cthe obvious: \u2018I falsely accused Don Arax.\u2019 Instead, she shifts responsibility to her own son, whose sworn declaration directly contradicts what she testified he told her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not contrition. It is public relations,\u201d Whelan said.<\/p>\n He added that he welcomes Thomas\u2019 admission at trial.<\/p>\n Thomas takes \u2018responsibility\u2019<\/p>\n Thomas said she will continue to standup for what is right and \u201cthe courage to speak up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToday, standing up means acknowledging what I now know, taking responsibility for my words and apologizing to Mr. Arax and his family. I stood up then. I\u2019m standing up now. Because standing for what\u2019s right means standing for everyone\u2014even when it isn\u2019t popular or convenient,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n Despite \u201ctaking responsibility,\u201d Thomas does not mention the defamation lawsuit, or if she is now willing to settle.<\/p>\n Thomas\u2019 attorneys filed a court motion last week, abandoning two key defenses she made previously \u2014 that her allegation was true, and that she had certain qualified immunity.<\/p>\n Last month, a Fresno County Superior Court judge ruled that Thomas would remain a defendant, denying a motion to dismiss her from the case. Fresno Unified filed a motion to dismiss the district from the case. That will be heard Oct. 7. A trial is scheduled to start Dec. 7.<\/p>\n Through June 9, the district has paid $235,330 in defense fees for itself. It has also paid Thomas\u2019 defense costs of $134,421. While the fees are currently covered, they have not indemnified Thomas. That means if a judge finds Thomas liable for damages, she would be on her own to pay, and not covered by the district.<\/p>\n Bee reporter Leqi Zhong contributed to this story.<\/p>\n![\"Fresno](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Thomas_Arax.jpg\" "\\"Thomas_Arax.jpg\\"")
Fresno Unified School Board member Keisha Thomas, left, with former Bullard High football coach Donnie Arax, right, in a composite photo. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n