Updated

The former superintendent of a suburban Philadelphia school district and another top administrator are the subjects of a criminal investigation after the two reportedly sent racially charged text messages to each other on district phones earlier this year.

Richard Como suddenly resigned his position as District Superintendent on August 29, days before the start of the new school year. In his resignation letter, Como wrote the following: "The timing is right. Tonight we may know the reason." A few days later, Athletic Director Jim Donato also submitted his resignation.

Three days later, the Daily Local News of Chester County received four pages of transcripts of text messages sent between Como and District Athletic Director Jim Donato. The messages were sent in early June from phone numbers assigned by the district and included references to students and faculty. In one conversation, the "n-word" was used 14 times.

The Daily Local News also reported that the Coatesville Area School Board was prepared to allow the two men to keep their positions before the transcripts of the messages were leaked to the Chester County District Attorney's Office, prompting a criminal investigation.

The school board is expected to approve both resignations at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday.

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