The parents of three Fayetteville High School softball players have filed a federal Title IX lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the school.
Chris D. Ezell, James and Donna Lyles, and Wes R. Mabry, the plaintiffs in the suit, are seeking punitive damages claiming that their daughters, members of the Fayetteville softball team, have been denied equal treatments and benefits that the boys sports teams have been afforded.
The school district released a statement in response to the lawsuit.
"Our facilities for both boys and girls are outstanding and reflect our District’s commitment to equity," Superintendent Paul Hewitt said in the statement. "We believe the quality of our athletic programs for both male and female athletes will be fully demonstrated in the pending court action."
The suit lists eight areas where they claim their daughters have been treated unfairly based on their gender:
- Funding of athletics
- Provision of equipment and supplies
- Scheduling of games and practice times
- Assignment and compensation of coaches
- Opportunities to receive coaching
- Provision of locker rooms and facilities
- Provision of training facilities
- Publicity
The plaintiffs “seek monetary relief in order to compensate for damages resulting from defendant’s discrimination in the Fayetteville Public Schools athletics program including out-of-pocket expenses for equipment and supplies” as well as damages associated with their daughters’ reduced opportunities to obtain college athletic scholarships.”