District accused of violating Title IX

A complaint filed with the Office of Civil Rights in Seattle accuses the Coeur d’Alene School District of discriminating against girls by not offering athletic opportunities equal to what boys receive.

The anonymous letter, dated April 4, alleges the district is in violation of Title IX, the federal law that mandates equality in sports.

“Coeur d’Alene School District provides disproportionately lower opportunities for girls to participate in athletics at both of its high schools, Coeur d’Alene and Lake City High Schools,” the letter stated.

“The Coeur d’Alene School District cannot demonstrate that the present program has fully and effectively accommodated the interests and abilities of the members of that sex.”

Keri Jaworski, girls golf coach at Coeur d’Alene High School, disagreed.

“Our high school and activities department treats our female athletes with the utmost of respect and dignity,” she told the Coeur d’Alene Press.

The letter said that the district did not provide “equal education in athletic opportunities for girls which appears entirely based on their gender,” and that the district cut girls from teams but had a no-cut policy for boys’ sports programs.

“We believe girls do have the same access to sports as the boys,” said Hazel Bauman, district assistant superintendent.