Sports inequities found District investigation reveals problems. Boys' teams receive more publicity and booster money. Wednesday, April 18, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | A school district investigation into claims of inequity within high school sports has revealed that female athletes feel like second-class citizens in comparison to high school football players. A law firm's review, costing at least $60,000, also cited a lack of fundraising oversight regarding the football team's booster club and a general lack of publicity with respect to girls' sports teams. The 116-page investigative report by the Stier Anderson law firm broke down the high school's athletic program in response to a 32-count discrimination complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education. Sources familiar with the investigation identified the complainant as high school math teacher George Chilmonik, who declined comment Tuesday. The Dec. 8 complaint detailed perks given to football players that were not given to female athletes. Of the 32 alleged violations, just more than half were considered "at risk" or questionable issues. The report said simply tracking booster and fundraiser benefits would have eliminated many of the compliance concerns. Even if money comes from outside sources, the district is still responsible for equalizing benefits for all sports. The report will be used by the district to formulate a "voluntary compliance agreement" with the Office for Civil Rights. Superintendent Gordon Pethick said the district needs clarification on some of the issues. "We're developing an action plan to take on any issue," Pethick said. District Title IX compliance officer and Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Attinello said the district likely will have to budget more for some sports to compensate for booster donations to football. Under Title IX, if a single program receives donations, it can keep that money if the district reallocates that amount from the athletic department budget. "Were not going to attack any program," Attinello said. Marketing for the top-ranked Stateliner football team in comparison with other high school sports comprised a significant part of the investigation. The report stated that some coaches said high school female athletes feel like second-class citizens. "(Female athletes) are even resigned to the fact that the lack of publicity they receive is due to their lack of success as athletes," the report said. Another concern focuses on publicity efforts for the annual Thanksgiving Day football game with Easton; there is no equal frenzy surrounding girls' teams' competitions with Easton. "The publicity has increased the ability of the football team to raise money through donations and fundraising events," the report said. Asked specifically about the impact on the Thanksgiving eve pep rally, Pethick said the rally transcends football as a communitywide event and solutions will be looked at closely. "The pep rally has been a tradition for as long as I can remember," Pethick said. "I don't see that changing significantly." The report wasn't all negative. The firm praised Phillipsburg for designating an artificial turf field at the new high school site for girls' field hockey and lacrosse. It said the inequities in publicity for girls' sports can be easily remedied. "Coaches interviewed agreed, Phillipsburg High School provides an equal opportunity for girls to participate in sports," the report said. High school Principal Mary Jane Deutsch, a former Phillipsburg athlete and assistant athletic director, said the district is "farther along with girls' sports than before." "We're pretty much leading the pack as far as girls' sports are concerned," she said. Deutsch noted two of the last three sports added at the high school, soccer in 1997 and lacrosse in 1999, were both female sports. The third sport was coed winter track in 2000. School attorney Don Morrow said the district will forward the Stier Anderson findings to the Office for Civil Rights, a division of the federal Department of Education tasked with handling Title IX. Athletic director Tom Fisher thinks most districts across the Lehigh Valley are in danger of being in violation if investigated. "I didn't realize how much booster clubs can put you over the edge," Fisher said. Fisher went on to defend the booster clubs, saying, "We have a really solid bunch of booster clubs that treat boys and girls equally." Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2007 The Express-Times. Used with permission.