School Board
JURY FINDS IN FAVOR OF WABASH COUNTY ILLINOIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SPORTS DISCRIMINATION CASE
Jury rules that Mt. Carmel, Illinois High School Soccer Program in compliance with federal law relating to female athletic opportunities.
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS - After a three day trial, a jury of four women and four men sitting in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois found that Wabash Community Unit School District #348, located in Wabash County, Illinois, to be in compliance with federal law relating to equal opportunities for female student-athletes in the administration of its high school soccer program in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
Under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 any program receiving Federal financial assistance is precluded from denying female student-athletes the opportunity to participate on athletic teams. In her Complaint filed in the case, Mandalynne Steele, a former student at Mt. Carmel High School alleged she was discriminated against by the School District in that she was not provided varsity playing time on the Mt. Carmel High School varsity soccer team because of her sex. According to the student's complaint, she was allowed on the boys varsity soccer team, however, the coaches denied her playing time based on her gender. Despite the claims of Mandalynne Steele, the school district held firm to its belief that the soccer program was free from sexual discrimination and today, the jury sitting in federal district Court confirmed the District's belief. "This is a great victory for the School District" states Stanton D. Ernest of Rhine Ernest LLP, the law firm retained to defend Wabash Community Unit School District #348. Mr. Ernest adds "Under federal law, the School District is required to provide equal opportunity to female student-athletes and the jury's ruling today enforces our belief that the School District has operated its programs in a gender-neutral environment." "Furthermore," adds Mr. Ernest, "this case sends a message that the School District will not back down when wrongfully accused of violating the rights of its students."
The case was filed in March of 2001 and originally brought four claims against certain coaches and administrative personnel of Mt. Carmel High School, as well as, the School District. However, after extensive litigation, all that remained of the four count complaint was the Title IX claim against the school district, which was resolved today with a jury verdict in favor of the District.