Parents of 3 students sue State College Area School District, allege Title IX violation
A disagreement over opportunities afforded to girls to play hockey in Happy Valley reached federal court last month, when the parents of three State College Area School District students sued the public school system.
Attorney Aaron Brooks — who filed the lawsuit on behalf of himself, Linnet Brooks, Michael Lucy, Elizabeth Yoder and Megan Abplanalp — alleged the district is intentionally excluding female athletes.
The district, the attorney alleged in the 126-page lawsuit, is in “clear violation of Title IX.” The landmark federal law that turned 50 earlier this year is meant to bring equity between men and women in most facets of education.
SCASD attorney Chris Conrad declined comment Thursday, writing in an email that the district “will not discuss the pending litigation outside of the court process.” The district’s response is due Sept. 15.
Among the disagreements are the district’s level of involvement with the club.
The lawsuit claimed the SCASD Ice Hockey Club is sanctioned by the district, which pays a stipend to an employee to also serve as an academic adviser. The district’s Title IX officer wrote in a report dated Aug. 15 that it does not provide financial aid.
Brooks wrote the 10-page report was “flawed in several ways.” He later wrote the 75-day investigation was a “brazen attempt to run out the clock on the female athletes.”
The parents asked a federal judge to order the addition of their children to the club’s roster, as well as at least $100,000.
The federal lawsuit comes about three months after Brooks made a similar plea to Centre County Judge Brian Marshall, who denied their emergency request.