From the BCCT. We do not really follow the Bristol schools here, so it's hard to say what the true back story is. If this were Morrisville, these lines would be laughable. "School board members voiced frustration during their last meeting that the people who lodged the complaint did not first go to them to discuss their concerns. 'Now it’s going to cost taxpayers money [to respond to the allegations] when it could have been resolved with dialogue.'"
The Emperor has made it clear that for Morrisville citizens, dialogue is irrelevant and resistance is futile. The only way they will listen to opposing points of view is for both sides to lawyer up.
Complaint alleges district violating Title IX
The federal education department has asked for information ranging from booster club financial records to an inventory of district athletic equipment in its inquiry.
By JOAN HELLYER
STAFF WRITER
The federal government is trying to determine if the Bristol Borough school district discriminated against high school female athletes, according to the United States Department of Education. The accusations stem from the recent establishment of a football boosters club, according to a letter of inquiry sent to Bristol Superintendent Broadus Davis from the department’s Office of Civil Rights.
“The complaint alleges that the district is discriminating against high school female athletes on the basis of sex by using funds from booster clubs to provide male athletes with benefits that are greater than those the district provides to female athletes,” said David Blom, in the letter.
The fear, according to Blom, is that it would result in various inequities including equipment and supplies, game and practice schedules, locker rooms, and practice and competitive facilities.
The civil rights office is investigating whether the school district is in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Blom said in the letter. Title IX protects people from sexual discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Blom’s five-page letter includes requests for information about: all high school teams; 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 athletic budgets and schedules; booster club financial records; district athletic equipment; award ceremonies; 2007-2008 teams in post-season events; 2007-2008 team participation in exhibition or scrimmage games; high school coaching staff members; complaints received last school year about athletic program conditions; and various district policies.
Those policies include guidelines about booster clubs, publicity services for boys and girls athletic programs, locker rooms, competitive and practice schedules and facilities, and coaching staffs.
School board members voiced frustration during their last meeting that the people who lodged the complaint did not first go to them to discuss their concerns.
“Now it’s going to cost taxpayers money [to respond to the allegations] when it could have been resolved with dialogue,” Vice President John D’Angelo said.
Davis is working with board solicitor Anthony Mandio and district administrators to gather the requested information. They have until Friday to submit the responses to the department, the superintendent said.
The education department did not name the people who lodged the allegations against the district in its inquiry letter.
Department officials did not respond to the paper’s request to identify the people who complained. However, a spokesman said opening an investigation does not mean the district is guilty as charged.
The civil rights office generally completes its investigations within six months time, said Jim Bradshaw, the education department spokesman.
If investigators determine the district has not complied with civil rights laws, it will be asked to negotiate a voluntary resolution agreement, according to the department’s Web site. If the district does not voluntarily try to resolve the concerns, the agency can take various steps to ensure an agreement is implemented.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
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1 comment:
Bristol's property tax rates are lower than ours - advantage, Bristol.
Bristol's cost per student is lower than ours - advantage, Bristol.
Bristol's student/teacher ratio is higher than ours, especially the way Hellmann and Marlys calculate it (that is, they don't, they just rely on emails that were answering a different question) - advantage, Bristol.
Bristol has one more alleged Title IX violation than we do - again, advantage, Bristol.
The first three of the above parameters in which Bristol holds the advantage are complex, long-term, systemic issues that will take some time to resolve. But come on, I'm sure we can rack up at least 2 Title IX violations faster than you can say "What was that knucklehead former Morrisville football coach's name who put those dopey billboards in his front yard last year?".
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