Lessons Learned

Complainant filed a complaint on behalf of her minor daughter, alleging that the respondent school district subjected her daughter to less favorable treatment than male athletes. Complainant alleged that after a school board member complained that the girls’ volleyball uniforms were inappropriate following an impromptu poll of parents and spectators, respondent reallocated money and ordered new girls’ volleyball uniform shorts without consulting the team’s head coach or players. Investigation found that respondent does not unilaterally alter the uniform guidelines of the male athletic teams based on impromptu opinion polls. The respondent and the Commission reached a settlement in which respondent agreed to adopt a non-discriminatory policy and provide anti-discrimination training to its school board members, superintendent, principal, vice principal and coaches.