(MOBILE, Ala.) - Are boys and girls being treated equally in Mobile County schools? One coach says female athletes are getting less money, a smaller workout space and even a smaller concession stand. After she filed a complaint, the Superintendent says changes are coming.
At Mary G. Montgomery High School, the baseball team has a large field house, with plenty of room for the guys to work out. The Booster Club raised the money to build it. Where the girls get in their workouts, is another story. Superintendent Roy Nichols says the space is much smaller.
"When you put all that together, it's not comparable to where the girls softball team is asked to suit up," Nichols said.
Nichols says it really comes down to who is raising money. "Almost all of this stems from boosters clubs getting behind one sport," he said. "And the booster club that raises the most money, can provide better facilities for that sport."
Several months ago, the girl's softball coach at Theodore High filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights. She claimed her players weren't being treated equally, especially in the weight room.
Nichols says he went out to the high school. "Sometimes the girls felt that they weren't welcome there, if the boys were there," Nichols said. "So, they felt they needed separate equipment in a separate room. I was told it was kind of jammed in a locker room."
Nichols says the Federal Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation and found some of the complaints were valid.
"We want to make sure female athletes have just as many opportunities as male athletes," Nichols said. "We'll take the advice of OCR. We will look at our plans based on what the suggestions are and we will make it right."
