Title IX audit update recommends clearer booster-club bylaws, standardized financial reports

The Program & Personnel Committee received an update Oct. 14 on the district's Title IX audit action plan that focused on booster-club oversight at Libertyville High School and the need for clearer bylaws and standardized financial reporting.

Brian Kelly presented the audit update and said Libertyville has eight separate parent booster organizations and a number of coach-led fundraisers. "We collected bylaws from the parent booster clubs and financials from their booster clubs. In our audit of this information, there is some missing information, complete information from the bylaws," Kelly said, summarizing the review and the recommendation that booster clubs submit updated bylaws and standardized reports.

Elizabeth Kelly, an attorney who worked on the audit, described the overall findings as "fairly unremarkable," and said the issues were primarily procedural rather than violations. "Maybe some of the bylaws were outdated or could have been a little better. Some of the financials maybe could have been kept in a way that was easier to follow, but by no means is that a violation or an issue," she told the committee.

Under the action plan recommended to the committee, parent booster clubs at Libertyville High School will be required to submit fundraising activities for district approval on the same model used for coach-led fundraisers: proposed activities go to the athletic director for review and approval, and booster groups will meet annually with building leadership (principal and athletic director) to review bylaws and spending.

Both presenters emphasized that Title IX's implementing regulations provide limited prescriptive guidance on how equality in spending must be achieved; instead officials review whether opportunities and overall experiences are "substantially similar." Elizabeth Kelly noted recent federal guidance changes and cautioned that private donations alone do not automatically create a Title IX violation under the Department of Education's most recent guidance.

Board members asked clarifying questions about where oversight responsibility sits (school vs. district), whether a single umbrella booster organization would be preferable, and how restricted private donations can be managed. Presenters said the district is not required to independently audit every booster club but should have district-level knowledge of booster fundraising and expenditures to assess equity and compliance with Title IX.

No formal motions or votes were taken during the update; staff said the action plan will guide next steps and compliance efforts.

Speakers and roles cited in the presentation included Brian Kelly (presenter) and Elizabeth Kelly (attorney, Kore Bochek).