Federal lawsuit against Lexington 1 alleges poor facilities for girls
The parents of a rising ninth-grade female athlete at Lexington High School are asking a federal judge to order Lexington High School and Lexington School District 1 to provide sports opportunities and facilities for girls that are the equal of those provided to boys’ teams.
The lawsuit focuses on Lexington High School’s girls softball team and cites numerous alleged detailed examples of how that team has far inferior facilities and opportunities for play and practice than the boys’ football and baseball teams.
The lawsuit was brought by Samuel and Tanya Light, parents of a rising ninth-grade female softball player identified only by her initials, A.L, because she is a minor.
“A.L. is a talented athlete who participates in softball at Lexington High School,” the lawsuit says. Lexington 1 is “intentionally” violating federal law by failing to provide female students “with treatment and benefits which are comparable overall to the treatment and benefits provided to male athletes,” the lawsuit says.
In March, the Lights and other parents of girls at Lexington High School complained about alleged unequal facilities for female softball players at Lexington High School in an article in The State newspaper.
At that time, officials at Lexington 1 – its superintendent and four of seven school board members are women – insisted attention is being paid to concerns they say were first received from parents of softball players earlier this year.
Burnt-out lights had been replaced and mold in a concession stand is being removed, officials said. Plastic piping was put on top of fences to protect players pursuing fly balls, parents added.
On Thursday, Lexington 1 officials issued this statement: “Lexington County School District 1 takes great pride in offering world-class experiences for our students in the classroom, on the stage and on the field of competition.
“We’re not officially aware of any Title IX lawsuit. However, we believe we are in compliance with Title IX across the district and that we provide comparable facilities and athletic opportunities to both male and female athletes.”
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Columbia this week, makes new assertions about the alleged inequities, including:
▪ Although boys’ baseball and football programs each have a competition and a practice field, the girls’ softball team has only a competition field, which it is required to share with the school band. The boys’ baseball team has an indoor hitting facility adjoining its field, with lights and climate control; the girls’ team has nothing similar.
▪ Boys’ teams have far superior locker rooms and press boxes. The boys’ football team has a four-story press box “with central heat and air, an elevator, a luxury suite, a kitchenette, restrooms and an observation deck. Both football and baseball facilities have “state of the art sound systems, while the softball facility does not.”
▪ Boys’ teams have far superior parking lots, lighting, scoreboards, stadium-type seating and public restrooms to those provided to girls.
▪ Boys get “superior access” to trainers, weight-lifting programs and weight equipment.
The lawsuit is being brought under provisions of what is called Title IX, a landmark 1972 federal law that requires schools that receive federal funds to provide girls and women with equal opportunity to compete in sports.
On Thursday, Samuel Light declined comment, saying the lawsuit was under way.
But in March, he told a State newspaper reporter, “Lexington High School will set an example or become an example,” Light said. “I want our school to be a winner, looking good in how they respond.”
His lawsuit is brought by Tennessee attorney Samuel Schiller, who advertises on his website that he practices almost exclusively in Title IX litigation.
His website says he has filed lawsuits on behalf of student-athletes in 18 states addressing discrimination issues from the sixth grade to the college level. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Nick Mermiges, Schiller’s Columbia co-counsel, said Thursday, “We are looking forward to our day in court.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Federal lawsuit against Lexington 1 alleges poor facilities for girls."