Title IX - Update
We are grateful to the parents, staff, students and Board for their efforts to ensure Title IX compliance and a wonderful athletic program overall. Below is a Title IX update from our Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Ariel Dolowich:
First, it deserves to be acknowledged that over the past two years there have been deficiencies noted specific to PHS's high school athletic program. After engaging in a gender equity audit during the 2021-22 school year, a taskforce of staff, students and parents convened during the 2022-23 school year and identified findings that outlined disadvantages for girls in participation equity and in benefits accrued to athletes. Key guidance was provided to the task force participants in 2022-23 by a sports management expert, Dr. Donna Lopiano.
With the start of the 2023-24 school year, Dr. Hawn and I immediately addressed the importance of Title IX findings and convened the first task force meeting on August 17th, which included staff, students, and parents. Four Title IX subcommittees were formed with a staff member leading each one and we now have over 25 active participants addressing and making tangible progress on related matters. The four subcommittees include the following: a budget subcommittee, a benefits data subcommittee, a budget subcommittee, and a communications subcommittee. Subcommittees have since met multiple times and the task force again reconvened on Sept. 20th and will continue to do so throughout the year. Subcommittees identified topics to address and have reported significant and tangible progress in addressing matters that were previously left unaddressed before the 2023-24 school year. This progress was reported at the Sept. 27th Board meeting during a Title IX presentation.
Concrete examples of progress that deserve to be highlighted include the following:
Communications subcommittee successfully updated the PHS Athletics website here
Notable website highlights include:
Rolling calendar events at the top of the page
For all fall sports: an overview, schedule, coaches information, team details by selecting appropriate tab
Organized into fall, winter, spring sports
Non-Discrimination Policy here linked at bottom of athletics page
About Athletics here which outlines support groups and athletic policies
Athletics Gender Equity Handbook here can be found on the About Athletics web page under Athletics Policies
Participation Data tab here which details Title IX in athletics at PHS and provides audit information
Identification of funding sources for PHS sports
Budget subcommittee has identified impact of community fundraising sources for athletic programs and made sense of processes from outside donations
General Experience subcommittee is actively creating a parent FAQ for students and parents and engagement opportunities for future students and families
Benefits subcommittee is actively updating a benefits evaluation template and has identified increased competition schedules for girls as a key next step
Communications subcommittee is actively creating an education presentation regarding the importance of Title IX -- to be presented to all secondary students and families
Our intention is to shed light on the fact that this year there has been a significant increase in the number of staff, students, and parents heavily vested in improving matters related to Title IX this year. A Title IX task force and subsequent subcommittees have made more progress this year in a short amount of time than the prior two years. Title IX is an absolute priority for the district, and we continue to meet and monitor progress for our students.
Piedmont Unified School District
Email: communication@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Website: www.piedmont.k12.ca.us
Location: 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-594-2600