THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503250451
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The U.S. Department of Education will begin an investigation next week into charges of inequality between boys and girls athletic programs at Maury High School.
The pending investigation came to light Thursday when Patti Forrester, speaking for a group of Maury parents, approached the Norfolk School Board asking for help.
Forrester, who has one daughter playing sports at Maury and another at Blair Middle School, said her group has four major points of emphasis: communication between Maury High staff and parents, leadership, accountability of funds and coaching.
``Over the years, there have been a number of parents who have met with Maury administrators about different things at different times,'' Forrester said. ``Each time, they were told by the administration that this was the first they'd heard anything about this and that they would look into it. Then a year later, there would be no change.
``In sharing our stories with other parents who had students who had played girls sports at Maury, they'd say, `Good luck. They will wear you down.' ''
This time, the parents seem prepared to wear down the school system. A group of 15 parents met at Forrester's house a week prior to her approaching the School Board; she said a dozen other parents are backing her efforts.
Forrester said a civil rights complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Education by an unnamed person in September.
``It's a complaint, not a lawsuit,'' said Forrester, adding she did not file the complaint but is familiar with its contents. ``It can be arbitrated or there can be a federal investigation.
``We just want equitable treatment, uniforms and coach-to-player ratios. And as parents we want to be heard and want to work with the program.''
Roger Murphy, public liaison for congressional affairs with the U.S. Department of Education, was out of his Washington office Friday and could not be reached for comment.
Acting Maury High principal Dr. Beverly Roane did not return telephone calls to her office Friday, and Dr. Vicki Swecker, director of health and physical education for Norfolk Public Schools, could not be reached for comment.
George Raiss, spokesman for the Norfolk Public Schools, said an investigation ``is forthcoming next week.''
``We will first let the Department of Education investigation proceed,'' Raiss said. ``Then we will act accordingly. If there is a finding of fact supporting the complaint, we will take corrective action.
``But at this time, we don't have any response to the complaint.''
In 1972, the federal government passed Title IX, a set of laws regulating gender equity for any agencies receiving federal funds. The regulations were tightened in 1988.
Forrester said the ratio of boys athletes to boys coaches at Maury was 8 to 1 while the girls ratio was 18 to 1.
``We want to solve this problem this year,'' Forrester said.
KEYWORDS: GENDER EQUITY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS by CNB