By Pat Culverhouse
Webster Parish has joined a central Louisiana school board in a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, challenging a Title IX regulation change that plaintiffs claim is outside its power under the U.S. Constitution.
School Board members voted 7-2 (three absent) to align with Rapides Parish in the lawsuit rather than simply adopt a resolution of support. Attorneys for the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom filed the suit on behalf of Rapides, a school system with 20,000 students.
In addition, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Merrill, along with 14 other state attorneys general, is currently suing the federal Department of Education challenging the Title IX change.
At the center of the lawsuits is a new rule that protects LGBTQ+ students from sex discrimination under the civil rights law passed in 1972. Changes in Title IX are scheduled to go into effect August 1. Schools that do not comply with the new rule could risk losing federal funding, USDOE officials say.
Superintendent Johnny Rowland told board members the purpose of Title IX legislation was to protect women by prohibiting discrimination in education programs and activities where federal funds were received.
“We all know the original intent, but it seems there’s now an intent to broaden Title IX beyond that,” he said.
District 12 board member Susan Addington, who offered the motion to join Rapides Parish in the suit, said parents were waiting to see how this school board would react to the proposed change.
“We have to do something to let our parents know that we are as concerned as they are,” she said. “We have to take a stronger stance than just saying we support Rapides Parish.”
Some attorneys general who filed suit point to government overreach in passing what they consider a “radical” rule change.
Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti said the change is an “unconstitutional power grab.” Russell Coleman, Kentucky AG, said the Biden administration rule would “…rip away 50 years of Title IX’s protections for women and put entire generations of young girls at risk.”
Board members also approved, in globo, $149,482 worth of payments from various parish school funds. Payments included:
• Consolidated District 3 Maintenance Fund: $57,654.73; top expenditures were $16,000 for a 16x20x10 storage building at Lakeside Jr/Sr High and $15,997 to repair a water leak in the boys’ locker room at Lakeside.
• Doyline Maintenance Fund: $11,410.
• District 6 one-half cent sales tax fund: $48,932.27; chief expenditure was $24,300 to paint main lobby, hallways, gym and cafeteria at Phillips Elementary.
• Springhill Maintenance Fund: $31,485.84; largest expenditure is $16,400 to excavate existing valve and install piping at the football stadium at North Webster High School.