While Monroe Public Schools has stated a Title IX investigation regarding an alleged trans athlete is complete, the parent behind the complaint isn’t satisfied with the results and demanding release of investigative materials.
The Thomas More Law Center, the law firm representing Sean Lechner, released a letter decrying the investigation results and calling it a “so-called ‘investigation.'”
Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Shaw announced earlier this month an independent investigator determined that the school was not in violation of Title IX and that the claims against MPS were “unsubstantiated.”
The law firm’s letter states “the investigative process was corrupted.”
“School officials, entrusted with safeguarding young female athletes, instead orchestrated a process to excuse their own failures and prevent their political embarrassment,” the letter states.
It also alleged that the school district’s statement it shared the final report with Lechner’s attorney was false. According to Richard Thompson, chief counsel of Thomas More Law Center, the firm is “demanding” that the school turn over the investigative file so that they can see what statements and analysis the decision was based on.
“Monroe Public Schools received the objection and appeal letter and are working with our district attorney on the matter,” said Shaw.
You can read the whole release at here.
Lechner filed the complaint after he said Skyline High School’s girls volleyball team included an alleged transgender athlete during a Sept. 9 match against Monroe. He also alleged the teams shared a locker room before the match, which he said wasn’t usual for high school games. Monroe Public Schools has since changed its locker room policy, so that opposing teams will not share the same locker rooms.
Lechner alleged Chet Hesson, Monroe Public Schools’ athletic director, violated Title IX’s protections of privacy, safety, and equitable participation. Hesson was put on administrative leave in December.
“This action signals that Title IX matters, that parents’ voices matter, and that our schools have a duty to put students first — always,” Lechner said. “We will continue to stand up until every female athlete is protected, respected, and treated equally.”
— Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Law firm calls Monroe schools Title IX investigation ‘corrupted’
Reporting by Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
