By ROBERT L. LEE

VACHERIE – The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights returned their judgment to St. James High School, stating there were no findings of a Title IX violation.

Officials from the Office of Civil Rights visited the school earlier this year to examine the boys’ and girls’ athletic facilities and interview both the coaches and students.

Principal Josephine Allen Oubre said neither the students nor any coaches made positive or negative comments about the investigation, which lasted several days.

The OCR had been investigating St. James High since December of 2001, following a complaint filed to the Department of Education in October.

The complaint argued an unequal arrangement of equipment, supplies, locker rooms and practice, training and medical facilities supplied to the boys and girls.

Title IX bans gender discrimination and unequal treatment of students and athletes in public schools or any programs which use federal funding. Locker rooms, training facilities and the equal availability of athletic programs for both boys and girls is also protected under Title IX. The OCR did not say who filed the complaint, but said it argued that was an unequal arrangement of practice, training and medical facilities supplied to the male and female athletes.

“There were no findings, no accusations and no admittance of wrongdoing,” said Athletic Director Rick Gaille.

He said the only change that has been made, is now the coaches have to keep a written record of how much time and resources are allocated among the student athletes.

Previously, coaches verbally announced and agreed on matters such as practice time in each gym.

Gaille said the staff has been instructed of the policy.

“We are going to keep doing everything to the best of our abilities, to do what is right, fair and equitable,” he added.