The Bromfield School is generally in compliance with the federal law that requires equity between girls’ and boys’ athletic programs, but there is room for improvement in many areas. That is the overall conclusion of the long-awaited Title IX review of Bromfield’s sports programs for grades 9-12. Superintendent Linda Dwight presented the results of the study to the School Committee at its Monday meeting this week.
Title IX is part of a 1972 federal civil rights act prohibiting sex discrimination at schools that receive federal funds. The School Committee has been seeking this review since at least 2020, but the whole process was delayed when COVID-19 disrupted many school programs including sports.
“This [report] speaks so strongly to our ask from the town for an athletic director,” School Committee Chair Abby Besse said. “We desperately need a full-time athletic director.”
The detailed 131-page report was prepared by consultant Peg Pennepacker of High School Title IX Consulting Services LLC. She gathered extensive data on Bromfield team sports, made two site visits to the school during 2023, and interviewed students and coaches.
The report looks at the number of girls and boys participating in sports, as well as the number of sports teams available to each. Beyond that, the consultant considered all aspects of the athletic program—scheduling; equipment and uniforms; travel arrangements; coaching experience, quality, and pay; game and practice times; assistance from booster clubs; and related topics.
The report finds boys and girls take part in athletics in equal numbers, based on their share of the high school population. Over a two-year period, participation rates for boys and girls differed by only 1%. The report also finds that coaches and members of most teams, both boys and girls, believe they are competing in divisions that are “challenging and appropriate” to their skill levels.
The report also highlights several areas of significant concern. A major concern is the girls locker room, where the report urges that renovations be completed as soon as possible. (Money for that renovation passed unanimously at the 2023 Spring Town Meeting. The work got underway, was paused during the search for a new school facilities director, and is now a priority, according to Bromfield Principal Kim Murphy.)
The state of the softball program is also a concern. The report recommends improving the softball field facilities and also providing better transportation to those facilities. In the summer of 2022, a Harvard parent filed a Title IX complaint of discrimination with the school district’s compliance officer, stating that the girls’ softball field on Ann Lees Road was of lower quality than the boys’ baseball field on Pond Road. Dwight said Monday that the complaint is still active.
Practice times are also sometimes a problem. According to the report, “More girls’ teams than boys’ teams reported that practices were shortened because of having to share their practice facility with a middle school team.”
In every area the report suggests a long list of improvements. Among the recommendations are regular surveys of student interests and a process for adding new sports. In particular, the report says its own survey has shown a high interest in adding volleyball to the roster of Bromfield teams. The report also suggests providing professional development for coaches, improving access to weight rooms, establishing guidance and oversight of booster clubs, and regular monitoring of all programs to maintain progress.
