District 128 hears Title IX audit, parents press for faster action on booster funding and facilities

An independent audit of District 128's Title IX compliance presented Monday to the Board of Education found the district's athletic participation rates broadly proportional between male and female students but identified persistent equity risks tied to locker-room conditions, space for spring sports and the way private booster funds are used.

The audit, performed by school-law firm Crea Bocek, recommended a multi-part action plan including immediate reassignment and privacy improvements in some locker rooms, a facility review, and a financial review of booster-club fundraising at Libertyville High School. Stephanie Jones, a partner at Crea Bocek, told the board the audit used the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) compliance guidance as its benchmark.

The audit matters because private donations and uneven facilities can create meaningful differences in student experience even when participation numbers appear balanced. Parents and booster representatives who spoke during public comment said the findings matched long-standing concerns and urged clearer, faster district action.

"These results confirm issues that parents raised with district leaders nearly a year ago," said Laura Webber, a parent, during public comment. "The time to act is now." Webber accused the district of delayed oversight of booster funds and uneven facility allocation at Libertyville High School.

Other parents urged different remedies. Jeanette Hyam, president of Friends of Wildcat Softball booster club, described how individual team boosters currently fund uniforms, equipment and travel; she said Friends of Wildcat Softball holds $8,722.13 and that boosters aim to be transparent. "We are transparent with our parents, with our money," Hyam said, and said some boosters would be open to discussions about a single, centralized booster model.

Parents and supporters who favored preserving multiple booster groups argued that consolidation could alienate volunteer leaders and reduce funds targeted to smaller teams. "Don't let people who want to tear down the great things that are being done at LHS be the ones that you base your decisions on," said Dan Nikolic, an alumnus and volunteer coach.

Stephanie Jones said the audit examined three areas: participation opportunities (the OCR'style proportionality test), equal treatment of participants (equipment, scheduling, facilities, training and publicity), and nonathletic activities. "When we examined the participation opportunities, your disparity numbers fall within what we would consider a discrepancy interval," Jones said, noting several Libertyville and Vernon Hills measures were within a small percentage difference.

But Jones identified two priorities: (1) assessing and, where needed, improving locker-room usability and privacy; and (2) addressing disparities tied to private fundraising so schools can ensure equitable opportunities. On booster funds she said there is no single legal formula in federal case law and that districts nationwide use a variety of approaches (unified booster club, district-managed allocations, or targeted district supplementation) to reach equitable outcomes.

District staff described an action plan informed by the audit. Brian Kelly (staff member) said immediate steps include privacy stall improvements and reassignment of specific locker-room spaces at Libertyville High School this spring. The administration also plans a financial review of Libertyville booster groups and to convene a biannual Title IX review committee along with annual Title IX training for administrators, coaches and staff. Kelly said the district aims to provide the board an update on possible booster-club approaches by the end of September 2025.

Board members asked about timing and budget. Director Kara Drumke asked if anything in the audit required immediate legal action; Jones replied, "We didn't find anything that I would classify as egregious at all," but she recommended deliberate follow-up rather than hasty changes. Several board members suggested contingency planning during the FY26 budget process in case facility work is recommended.

The district will collect detailed booster financial summaries, reassign some locker-room uses this spring, and pursue a facility assessment to clarify the scope and cost of any larger renovations. The audit and the district's written action plan were shared with the public in early January and posted with the board packet.

Asked about legal guidance underlying the audit, Jones noted that while enforcement and guidance from the U.S. Department of Education can shift, the mechanics for balancing participation and equal treatment have been consistent.

For now the board took the audit as informational and directed administration to implement the components of the action plan, gather booster financial information and return with updates; no formal vote on policy changes took place Monday.

The district said it will monitor implementation through scheduled updates to the board and planned community outreach to booster clubs and athletic stakeholders.