Philip D. Brown

Richmond County Daily Journal

Raider football provides a sense of pride to many in Richmond County, but federal authorities are stepping in to ensure it’s not at the expense of other athletic programs.

A new Richmond Senior High softball field is in the works as Richmond County Schools officials formulate a response to allegations of civil rights violations for discriminating against the girl’s team.

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education said Monday the department’s civil rights division is investigating allegations made in a 2009 complaint of discrimination against the girls softball team.

The complaints range from a disparity between the facilities of the softball field and the baseball field, to a lack of locker rooms for softball players to the football team receiving priority for practice time on their field.

Also included is an allegation of a disparity in advertisements for games on local radio stations.

Monday morning, the head of the school’s athletic department, its principal and the chairman of the county board of education spoke to the Daily Journal about a plan that is being put in place to address the complaints by building a new softball field. However they referred specific questions about the plan to Richmond County Schools Superintendent Dr. George Norris.

A secretary for Norris said he was unavailable for comment Monday.

The Daily Journal has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the school system for copies of the complaints and their planned response. Another request was made to the U.S. Department of Education to get a complete copy of the investigation.

Richmond Senior High School Athletic Director Hal Shuler said Monday more female athletes graduate from the school’s softball program to compete at the next level than “probably any other sport.”

“Softball is a very important sport here,” Shuler said. “We have a strong program that competes for the conference championship every year, and won it this year, and makes the playoffs every year.”

He said the school was aware of the disparities prior to its discourse with federal authorities, and already have preliminary plans for a new softball field.

“Clearly, it’s something we want to do, something we need to do and something we have every intention of doing,” Shuler said. “It’s just a matter of when at this point.”

The question of when is a difficult question to answer because education officials are predicting a budget shortfall next year when stimulus funds run out at the state level.

Shuler said the new field would be moved further from the road, and will have lights, stands, dugouts and other comparable features to the boys baseball field. All of which come with some expense.

“Well, the lights will cost about $100,000, and you can start adding from there,” Shuler explained, saying the lights would most likely be the most expensive feature.

He said he is not certain of the total cost of the project.

RSHS Softball Coach Wendy Wallace said the upgrades are definitely needed.

“We’re the only team in our conference, and the only team I know of, without lights on our field,” Wallace said.

The lack of lighting cut a game short this season. The softball team was down 12-9 in the sixth inning of a game against Purnell Sweatt when it was called due to darkness in the sixth inning.

The loss came during the stretch run of the team’s regular season conference championship.

The complaints allege violations of Title IX, an amendment to federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender in education or other federally-funded activities.

U.S. Department of Education Spokesperson Jim Bradshaw said Title IX complaints against a school or school system usually involve athletic program.

“It is a common complaint that is filed with the Office of Civil Rights,” Bradshaw said.

The timeline for an individual school system to correct any violations varies, he said.

“It depends on what the findings reveal,” Bradshaw said. “If a violation is found, then we work with the school system to come into compliance. In virtually all Title IX cases we are able to reach an agreement short of having to move to enforcement.”

Richmond County Board of Education Chairman Ken Goodman said he believes plans for a new softball field are “satisfactory,” and school officials complied with the investigation.

“Based on what I was told, it wasn’t an adversarial-type investigation,” he said.

Goodman also said the school system is being told it will have flexibility to resolve the issue without creating a financial bind for itself.

“They understand that, with money being what it is, you can’t just suddenly do something that costs a significant amount of it,” he said. “So, I do believe they will afford us some flexibility to deal with that.”

Richmond Senior High Principal Cory Satterfield said he is also in agreement with plans for a new softball field, and that the high school values providing its female, and male, students with character-building “life experiences.”

“I think all of our sports programs are important, as are the extra-curricular programs, clubs and other activities we offer students outside the classroom,” Satterfield said. “They’re all important, whether it be the National Honors Society, the Beta Club ... They’re all life experiences for our students.”

n Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.