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Central students, coaches and parents call out facility inequities and demand action after sexual-assault allegations
Summary
Students, coaches and parents told the Little Rock School District board that Central High softball lacks its own proper field, reliable transportation and secure gear storage, framing the issues as Title IX equity failures; one speaker also publicly accused a current LRSD teacher of sexual assault and asked for an independent investigation.
Students, coaches and parents asked the Little Rock School District board on Monday to fix long‑running facility and access problems that they say put Central High's softball program at a disadvantage and raise Title IX concerns. "Field access isn't extra. It's basic," student speaker Jenny Bowwin said during public comment, describing uncovered batting cages, broken nets and only three practices on the actual field before the season.
Coach Jerry Bowwin, who identified himself as the head softball coach at Little Rock Central, told the board the team "does not have a place called home" and framed the problem as one of equal opportunity under federal law: "This is bigger than the softball. It's about doing what's right," he said, urging the board to invest in a dedicated facility. Parents said they regularly clean and stock restrooms and buy supplies out of pocket to make the field playable.
Several parents and volunteers detailed transportation problems that left students dependent on carpools or student drivers and described parents performing maintenance tasks the district should provide. Patrice Blackwell, a parent, noted the team's recent on‑field success despite those constraints and said inconsistent busing has placed student drivers and families at risk.
The hearing included a separate and serious allegation. Rory Wright told the board that "On August 7th, 2024, I was sexually assaulted by a man who is currently a teacher in LRSD," and said she filed a police report August 14, 2024 but that the case was not investigated after the teacher told police the relationship was consensual. Don Jeffrey, a parent, asked the board to commission an independent investigation, revise parent notification procedures, create an anonymous reporting hotline and consider nonrenewal of the teacher's contract.
District staff described a fact‑finding review of Interstate Park (the field used by Central softball) and summarized five recurring concerns from parents: the field's poor playing and spectator conditions; unreliable transportation; families doing maintenance and preparation work; lack of secure gear storage and locker rooms; and scheduling that limited practice time. The staff presenter said he would meet with athletics and Central staff and return to the board with recommendations at the district's May work session.
Board members thanked students and families for speaking out, said several members had toured Central facilities, and asked staff for near‑term fixes (improving transportation and security for practices, short‑term storage options) and a longer‑term feasibility and cost study to evaluate acquiring land or building a dedicated softball facility. A board member outlined a possible funding path, including selling underused district properties and dedicating proceeds to Title IX remedies.
Next steps: district staff will prepare short‑term recommendations for the board by its May work session and report back with feasibility/cost information for potential long‑term facility solutions.
