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Resident tells Waterbury Board that Wilby girls volleyball includes a boy, cites Title IX concerns
Summary
During public comment, Reverend Ali Gray III urged the Waterbury Board of Education to address what he said was a boy playing on the Wilby High School girls volleyball team, citing fairness, privacy and Title IX concerns; the board heard the comment during a suspended portion of the meeting and took no action.
Reverend Ali Gray III, a Waterbury resident and grandfather, told the Waterbury Board of Education on Oct. 16 that Wilby High School "has unfairly and arguably in violation of federal and state law" filled an all-girls volleyball team that includes a boy.
Gray made the remarks during the public-comment portion of the board's regular meeting, which had been temporarily suspended so commissioners could hear members of the public. Board rules read at the start of the public-comment period said remarks would be limited to five minutes and that there would be no responses that evening; comments would be referred to the district administration for review and response.
Gray said the decision at Wilby raised questions about fairness in competition, the privacy of girls in locker rooms and bathrooms, and guidance from state athletic authorities. "The Connecticut Department of Education and the CIAC has not done a good job advising, giving guidance," he said, referring to the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. He also referenced litigation involving the CIAC in November 2024 and urged the board to follow Title IX and keep "students in sports by their sex and gender." "By the way the truth of the matter is there are only 2 genders and 2 sexes," Gray said.
Gray said only one commissioner — Commissioner Van Stone — had responded to his earlier email and thanked that commissioner for replying. He added that his primary concern was for students, saying "I want what's best for them." The board took no action during the meeting on the topic; under the rules announced before public comment, the board did not respond during the session and referred public concerns to the administration.
Gray also described his own experience coaching at Naugatuck High School in 2019, saying girls at times had to compete against males and that the results were painful for the girls. He urged the board to consider the issue and to seek compliance with applicable federal and state law.
The public-comment period was followed by a return to the regular agenda; no motions or votes on the matter were recorded in the meeting minutes for Oct. 16.
