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Coach and union member accuses district of gendered athletics funding gaps; board asked to investigate
Summary
A Scranton High coach and member of the Scranton Federation of Teachers urged the board to investigate alleged Title IX disparities in athletic funding and equipment; the superintendent said she would follow up.
A former Scranton High School coach and member of the Scranton Federation of Teachers said the district’s athletic funding is inequitable between boys’ and girls’ programs and urged the Scranton School District Board of Directors to investigate.
Marissa Harris told the board she is “not here tonight to criticize any of our student athletes,” but said she found large disparities in spending after a right-to-know request. She said football received $161,000 last season while girls’ soccer received less than $10,000, baseball $40,300 while softball got less than $10,000, and boys’ basketball $28,000 while girls’ basketball received roughly $13,000. She said Scranton High football has received about $1,100,000 since the 2019–20 season.
“Are female athletes receiving an equitable share of resources? The quick answer is no,” Harris said, and urged the board to investigate and correct the disparities. She said she resigned as head coach in 2023 because of “bullying and pressure from administration” and a lack of support for girls’ athletics.
Superintendent Dr. Keating responded to the public comment by agreeing to investigate the concerns and report back to the board. The transcript records Dr. Keating acknowledging the request and the board asking administration to follow up.
Why this matters: Title IX requires schools receiving federal funds to provide equitable athletic opportunities and resources. Harris’s public comment gave the board figures and asked for a formal review.
What the board did: The board did not vote on policy changes at the meeting; directors asked administration to investigate and provide findings to the board at a future meeting.
Documentation: Harris provided packets to the board with her findings; the transcript records the figures she cited during public comment and the board’s request for follow-up.
