Title IX complaint could reach trial next month

The Title IX lawsuit against Long Beach Unified School District is back in court after the holidays.

According to Kevin Butler in this morning’s Press-Telegram, U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess is expected to rule in the next few days on a lawsuit brought by the parents of a group of Wilson High School gymnastics students–but if the case doesn’t get resolved, it is set for trial Feb. 19.

At issue is whether the school district discriminated against the female gymnastics students when it removed a spring floor from the gymnastics room, to install weights and other fitness equipment.

The district planned to have the Wilson High students practice elsewhere–but, Butler writes that in an October preliminary injunction, Feess ruled that until the matter is settled, the district cannot continue remodeling the Wilson High gymnastics room.

The school district has said that reinstalling the spring floor (which apparently consists of springs … and a plywood floor) would violate fire codes–and that the 44-by-36 foot spring floor is dangerous because it’s too small.

The district’s lawyer, Allen L. Thomas, acknowledged in Los Angeles court that no gymnasts have actually been hurt using the floor–but said that the district considers the floor a safety issue and is trying to address the situation.

Tags: Allen L. Thomas, California, gymnastics lawsuit, Kevin Butler, Long Beach, Long Beach Unified School District, press telegram, Southern California, spring floor, The District Weekly, Theo Douglas, Title IX lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess, Wilson High School