Parents, as next of friend of their minor daughters, filed suit on June 27, 2001 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma against Independent School District #9 of Tulsa County, also known as Union Public Schools, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. The complaint alleged that the school district had violated Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 by denying female students, specifically female softball players equal access to interscholastic and school-sponsored athletics.

Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the school had discriminated against female softball players in the funding of athletics, equipment and supplies, the scheduling of practice times, travel and meals, assignment and compensation of coaches, provision of locker rooms and facilities for both practice and competition, and the provision of training facilities and services. The plaintiffs sought class certification for all present and future female students wishing to participate in softball at Union Public Schools.

The parties held a settlement conference on December 13, 2001 before Magistrate Judge Claire V. Eagan. On February 12, 2002, the parties submitted a joint stipulation of dismissal to Federal District Judge Sven Erik Holmes. Judge Holmes granted the plaintiffs' motion for class certification and accepted the parties' settlement agreement on March 26, 2002.

In the settlement agreement, the defendant school district agreed to maintain accounting records for expenditures and revenues for male and female sports and to provide a copy of such record to a requesting party. The school district also agreed to maintain a substantially equal ratio to coaches for both the baseball and softball teams, negotiate for equalized salaries for softball and baseball coaches, provide access to the weight rooms on a gender-neutral basis and equip weight rooms with equipment appropriate for female athletes, and maintain practice and competition facilities on a gender-neutral basis. Additionally, the school district agreed to provide softball players with a designated locker/dressing area, ensure that private donations benefit the softball team on an equitable and gender-neutral basis as compared with other athletic teams, and increase promotion of the district's commitment to providing an equal opportunity to male and female students through publication and distribution of the Student Handbook, which would include a grievance process for parents and students. Oversight of compliance with the settlement agreement was referred to the district's Title IX Officer.

The case was dismissed on March 26, 2002.

Carlyn Williams - 02/10/2014


compress summary