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A federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education has found
no violations of Title IX in a
probe to determine if there is a disparity between boys and girls
athletics at Scotts Valley High School.
A federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education has found no violations of Title IX by Scotts Valley Unified School District in a probe to determine if there is a disparity between boys and girls athletics at Scotts Valley High School.
“We are pleased and relieved it’s over with,” Principal Gregg Gunkel said.
A 12-page report released Monday gave the high school a clean bill, relieving a burden from district administration frustrated by an anonymous complaint against its athletics program.
Title IX is a federal law enacted in 1972 that prohibits gender discrimination in educational opportunity if an institution receives federal money. Its primary impact has been on sports programs, putting girls and women’s athletics in public schools and colleges on a par with boys and men’s teams.
Investigators from the D.O.E. Office of Civil Rights visited campus for two days in December to interview students, athletes, coaches, staff and administrators in a comprehensive investigation.
The anonymous complaint filed against the district accused the high school of failing to accommodate the developing athletic interests and abilities of its female students.
It also called into question the equity between girls and boys’ equipment, uniforms and supplies, scheduling, coaches and tutors’ compensation and the provision of locker rooms, practice and game facilities.
The report’s conclusion was good news for the high school.
“While there are individual instances of disparities favoring males or females within the athletic program at the high school, they either offset or do not show a pattern of disparities or ‘second class status’ for either gender,” states the report authored by lead investigator David Rolandelli.
A main focus of the inquiry was differences between the softball and baseball fields.
The report found that while the baseball field has its own snack bar and closed dugouts, the softball field is 220 yards closer to the bathrooms and is close enough to the gym to use the concession stand located there.
Drainage issues were examined, as well, and the report found that the fields have equal drainage problems because of water running off the nearby hillside.
“The athletes were proud of their facility, and stated that no other softball team in the league has a covered dugout and they did not want to be different,” the report stated. “Softball athletes and coaches stated that their softball field is the best softball facility in the league.”
Gunkel said he hopes that in the future, people with complaints will go directly to the administration to work on complaints.
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