Detroit News staff writer Tony Paul,
a graduate of Wayland High School, has reported today that the Wayland Board of Education has decided to include a new baseball field on its list of capital improvements this year to be funded.
The school district was acting less than a week after former member Shelly Salisbury Whitley filed a Title IX violation complaint with the federal Office of Civil Rights in Cleveland. Whitley had contended that the high school/middle school athletic campus included
five softball fields, but only one baseball field that was up to proper specifications.
Whitley now has indicated that because the board acted promptly on the issue, she will ask the OCR to drop the complaint.
The school board made the decision at a work session Monday evening, during which it met in closed session to examine a written opinion by its attorney. Board members later approved a list of capital improvement projects and apparently the a second baseball field was included.
Title IX violations customarily are from the girls’ side of the athletic programs. Federal Title IX rules, adopted in 1972, insist that boys and girls be given equal opportunities in the athletic arena.
Paul has reported that, “With the addition of a second baseball field, the high school and middle school will have two baseball fields, while softball will have four,” and Whitley has indicated that will be fair.
Paul also reported that Whitley said last week Taylor told her he would recommend the project to the board.
Cost for constructing, excavating and irrigating the field in back of the middle school is estimated at between $200,000 and $300,000.
There is a second baseball field across from Baker Elementary on Sycamore Street, but it’s not on the high school and middle school campus and it is aging, unsafe and doesn’t meet specifications for varsity baseball.
Townbroadcast was present at the school board meeting until 6:45 p.m. as the board went into closed session. This reporter went to cover the Dorr Township Board meeting, so results of board action were not understood.
