A California school board member has admitted to lying about her son’s football coach calling him a racial slur.

Fresno Unified Board Trustee Keshia Thomas withdrew her allegation against former Bullard High School Football Coach Don Arax in court last week.

She previously claimed that Arax, who is white, called her son the N-word in 2013 during a May 2022 podcast episode for GV Wire, Action News reported.

Arax filed a defamation lawsuit against her that same year, and she and her son have since admitted to lying. It has also emerged that the child did not even attend Arax’s school.

She told Action News: ‘As a mother, when my child told me something had occurred involving race, I took him seriously.

‘As a school board member, I also believed I had a responsibility to take seriously anything that could affect whether students felt safe, respected and comfortable in their school environment.

‘My concern was not only for my son, but for every child entrusted to our schools.’

She went on to speak directly to Arax, stating: ‘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.

‘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.’

Thomas is now being urged by the Fresno Teachers Association (FTA) to stand down from the school board and drop out of the upcoming Fresno City Council race.

‘How can we as a community trust that what she says is accurate, it’s true?’ FTA President Manuel Bonilla said.

After issuing her lengthy statement, Thomas made it clear that she would not be stepping down.

‘I am not resigning,’ she told Action News before slamming the FTA.

She added: ‘FTA’s attempt to turn an act of accountability into a political demand for my resignation is irresponsible and distracting.

‘It is also troubling coming from a labor organization whose movement is built on due process, fair representation and the right to be heard. Those principles should not disappear when politically inconvenient.’

Thomas’s U-turn comes after she previously tried to walk back her allegations.

In a deposition video filmed in April 2025 and referenced in court last week, the mother denied ever making the claims.

When asked by Arax’s attorney if she called the coach a ‘racist,’ she replied: ‘I have never referred to him as a racist to anyone,’ footage obtained by the outlet revealed.

The lawyer then asked her: ‘Do you understand that if you tell people that Mr. Arax refers to your son as the N-word, that they would understand that Mr. Arax is racist?’

Thomas’s lawyer then objected, but she replied: ‘Thank you. And I never said he called my son the N-word.’

Her son, who has not been named, also ‘made a similar acknowledgment in his own declaration,’ Fresno City Council’s District 3, where Thomas has a seat, said.

Bonilla has now questioned Fresno Unified School District’s (FUSD) handling of the case, and how much it cost taxpayers.

When approached for comment by Action News, a spokesperson for FUSD said they ‘agreed to help cover trustee Thomas’ legal fees at a time when we had no reason to question her account.’

Fresno Unified trustee rejects calls to resign amid defamation lawsuit

The Fresno Teachers Association is calling for the resignation of a Fresno Unified Trustee. The teachers’ union also says it wants Trustee Keshia Thomas to end her current campaign for Fresno City Council’s District 3 seat.

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‘Since then, new information has come to light. In her deposition, Thomas acknowledged that some of her earlier statements were not accurate, and her son made a similar acknowledgment in his own declaration,’ a statement read.

‘In light of this, the FUSD Board will reconsider whether it will continue supporting Thomas’ attorneys’ fees.

‘We also want to be clear about the scope of our support: FUSD has not agreed to indemnify Thomas should she be found liable for defamation.

‘We’re hopeful that mediation on August 31, will help the parties find common ground on the remaining questions of damages and liability,’ the statement concluded.

The case could be settled during mediation, but if it’s not, it will go to trial in December.

Arax claimed over $10,000 in damages when he originally filed his suit against Thomas.