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Candidates split over District 20 joining sports-fairness lawsuit; debates focus on prevalence and use of taxpayer funds
Summary
Candidates at an Academy School District 20 forum sharply disagreed about the board's resolution on sports fairness and the decision to join a lawsuit: some defended the action on safety and Title IX grounds, while others said the issue is not prevalent locally and criticized spending on litigation.
A heated exchange at the Academy School District 20 candidate forum centered on the board's recent resolution addressing fairness and safety in school sports and its decision to join related litigation.
Cynthia Halverson said she supported the board's move, stating, "boys should not be in girls sports or vice versa," and praised the decision to join the lawsuit as an expression of protecting girls' opportunities. Holly Tripp framed the dispute in legal terms, saying, "Title IX was put in place to ensure girls and women have equal access and opportunity in education and sports," and argued a male competing in girls sports can undermine those protections.
By contrast, Renee Malloy Ludlam and Brandon Clark questioned the local relevance and the fiscal priorities of litigation. Ludlam said the district serves more than 26,000 students and has had "two" such incidents over 15-plus years, calling the problem "not a reality that our schools are dealing with on a regular basis" and saying litigation funds might be better used on maintenance and student services. Clark said, "I don't think it's a real issue that we're facing in District 20 today," and criticized spending taxpayer money on a broader national narrative.
Incumbent Susan Payne, who voted for the resolution and said she helped lead that effort, responded that multiple incidents had been referred in the district and that inconsistencies between state law and association rules (as discussed during the board presentation) left the board seeking legal clarity; she also said conversations took place with the attorney general's office and with the athletics association prior to the decision.
Other candidates (Eddie Waldrop, Jennifer Stites) emphasized assessing case-by-case safety and fairness concerns and awaiting court rulings. No candidate reported an alternative local enforcement mechanism that would have resolved the dispute without litigation.
Next steps: the lawsuit is pending in the courts and candidates said they expect state and federal guidance to shape future board policy; forum participants did not take a formal vote.
