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Parents urge clearer Title IX policies after charter-school athletics investigation, tell District 6 board
Summary
Two public commenters told the board the district—s handling of a Title IX investigation into University Schools athletics was deficient, alleging incomplete documentation, unclear jurisdiction between the district and charter schools, and asking the board to clarify policies and oversight.
Two speakers during the board—s public-participation period raised concerns about how a Title IX investigation involving University Schools athletics was handled and asked the district to clarify policies and oversight of charter schools.
Lynn Parrish told the board she and her daughter reported complaints about the volleyball program and were directed to the district Title IX coordinator. Parrish said the investigation summary and redacted materials she reviewed contained irrelevant material from the accused and omitted documentation she and her daughter provided. "When I informed some of you that the summary and redacted report had issues, I was ignored," Parrish said. She described 100 pages of redacted reports, of which she said only three pages included interview material relating to her and her daughter and alleged the report contained irrelevant items such as photos from her daughter's Facebook page without explanation of relevance.
Parrish asked who oversees investigation quality and urged the board to reconsider how the district conducts investigations that involve charter schools, saying failures in the investigation had dismissed the emotional impact on students.
Dannine Banks provided the board with a handout and asked for district help clarifying procedures for charter-school families. Banks said she emailed the district athletic director on Aug. 1, 2024, asking about jurisdiction over University Schools athletics; the athletic director forwarded her email to Jim Donahue, the Title IX investigator. Banks said Donahue contacted her and began an investigation the next day. Banks said Donahue told her on Oct. 31 that he had 12 complaints to investigate since the beginning of the school year and that he is the only person in his department. Banks said she was later told by district officials that the investigation had been conducted "as a courtesy." She asked the board to provide clearer policies and procedures about charter-school oversight and to respond to specific questions supplied in her handout.
Board members did not provide immediate responses during public comment; the board's public-participation guidelines state that staff may be asked to follow up.
