School Board Looks to Find Funds For JW Softball Fields

Candace Braun

Faced with an ongoing lawsuit from parents of female athletes at Princeton High School, the Princeton Regional School Board was set to vote on a resolution last night that would move the district closer to examining the possibility of adding new softball fields at John Witherspoon Middle School.

The resolution asks the school administration "to consider providing funds within the 2005-06 school budget for the development of competition fields, including softball fields" at the middle school. The vote took place after Town Topics press time.

"We're asking that the administration see how much it would cost to create softball fields at John Witherspoon, and to update the current field that exists there," said Board President Anne Burns on Tuesday.

She added that even if the resolution is passed, it will not guarantee that the fields will be built: "I'm pretty much assuming it's going to be a second question," she said, referring to next April's budget vote.

Eric Amkraut, the district's athletic director, and Judith Wilson, the district's new superintendent who will assume her post on February 1, will examine how to work the cost of building two new fields and upgrading the current field at John Witherspoon into next school year's budget, said Ms. Burns.

Ms. Wilson was scheduled to make an appearance at the Board's regular meeting Tuesday night.

Filed by three sets of parents of PHS students, the lawsuit against the district contends that a violation of Title IX exists in Princeton. Title IX makes it illegal for schools to deny educational benefits on the basis of gender.

The lawsuit states that the parents feel that there is an inequality of funding between boys' and girls' softball and ice hockey teams; of equipment and supplies; of scheduled games and practices; and of the use of fields for practice and competition.

Prior to the filing of the lawsuit in October, Jim Mahon, one of the parents involved, wrote a letter of complaint to Interim Superintendent Richard Marasco regarding these same issues. Since the letter and formal complaint, the Board has met several times to examine what options could satisfy the parents' request. The Board originally considered adding two fields at PHS, but decided against it after discovering it would cost approximately $66,000.

If the current resolution is passed and the funds are found to build the fields, they would be constructed after all other construction at the middle school is completed, said Ms. Burns.

Security Measures

In other news, the new security system at the elementary schools was discussed at the Board's facilities meeting on Friday. Set to go into place once all construction is completed, the system would require all faculty members to carry I.D. badges that they would have to swipe on their way into the building. The system was part of the original construction plan for the four schools. While the security system can be adapted to the student level, the Board has not made a decision yet as to whether or not it will be, said Dr. Marasco, adding that the main priority right now is making sure the system is installed so that those in the schools feel secure, but not limited.

"You could have a great plan and system but it does nothing unless it's implemented properly," he said.

The security system will also be installed at the middle school and high school once construction is completed there.