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RSU 52 board approves one‑season exemption to allow a female athlete to play on boys lacrosse team after public appeals
Summary
After a series of public comments and legal arguments from community members and students, the RSU 52 board voted to grant a one‑season exemption to policy AC/DC allowing a female student to play on the boys lacrosse team and directed the policy committee to review the policy for longer‑term changes.
The RSU 52 Board of Directors voted to grant a one‑season exemption to board policy AC/DC to allow female athletes to play on the boys lacrosse team, after extensive public comment from parents, students and legal advocates and a lengthy board discussion on policy, precedent and legal risk.
Parent Amy Gershick opened the public‑comment sequence on the matter, asking the board to add the request to the meeting agenda so her daughter (identified in the meeting as Caitlyn/Kate) could finish the spring lacrosse season with the team she has played on: “I would just please ask if you could take the time this evening to add this to the agenda.”
Several students and community members followed with brief, in‑person statements describing the player as a proven teammate who routinely plays contact lacrosse alongside boys and saying they supported keeping her with the current team. Community commenter Peter Larry urged the board to allow the girl to try out and stressed his view that federal court precedent requires giving female athletes the opportunity to try out for boys teams in some circumstances; he told the board, “Federal courts have already upheld her right to make this decision based upon the equal right to protection clause.”
Board members discussed whether the change should be handled as an exemption, a waiver or by revising policy language. Some members said policy AC/DC is poorly worded and should be revised by the policy committee; others cautioned that ad‑hoc exemptions can create legal or precedent questions. After an amendment to limit the decision to one season, the board approved the one‑season exemption by vote.
What the board approved and next steps - A one‑season exemption to policy AC/DC permitting female athletes to play on boys lacrosse teams during the current season. - Direction to the policy committee to review and, if appropriate, recommend revisions to AC/DC so the district has clearer permanent language governing cross‑gender participation in distinct boys/girls sports.
The board’s vote followed public pleas from parents, multiple student testimonials and legal arguments presented from the audience; administration and several board members emphasized that the exemption is temporary and that formal policy work will follow. Administration and the policy committee were asked to bring proposed permanent language back to the board after review.
