With action Wednesday afternoon, the Gainesville City School Board has made a settlement in a Title IX lawsuit over facilities for female athletes at Gainesville High School.
The suit specifically addressed the softball facilities at Gainesville High School, and the Board agreed in a settlement to make improvements to the softball field and complex "as part of the District's overall capital improvement plan for its schools and facilities."
After the meeting at the District headquarters office, Dr. Jeremy Williams, who just took the helm as superintendent, said he was made aware of the litigation when he took the job. The announcement of the settlement became one of his first official actions in his new position.
"We're very pleased with the settlement and the outcome of it and we look forward to seeing what's going to happen with the softball complex as we start to bring it up to speed," Williams said.
He said there won't be enough time to refurbish the facilities before the upcoming season this fall, but the work should be done in time for the 2018 season.
"The entire softball complex that we have now will have comparable dugouts, comparable concessions, restrooms, comparable facilities to what we have with our male counterparts," Williams said.
Parent Ginger Folger, who has a daughter on the softball team, brought the lawsuit last summer. She said after the meeting that she was pleased with the Board's decision.
"I applaud the efforts of Dr. Williams to bring this to a successful conclusion," Folger wrote in a statement to AccessWDUN. "This settlement will benefit not only softball, but all female athletes at Gainesville High School. I hope this serves as an example to any parent who sees inequality for their children. They should not be afraid to stand up for what is right."
