A Maine school district said it was surprised by the federal government announcing an investigation into alleged discrimination.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights started a Title IX investigation Wednesday into Regional School Unit 19, which covers Newport, St. Albans, Hartland, Corinna, Dixmont, Etna, Palmyra and Plymouth.
The complaint alleges that “that the District discriminated against female students on the basis of sex by allowing a male student to join the girls’ cheerleading team and use the girls’ bathroom and locker room at Nokomis Regional Middle School,” a letter from Superintendent Michael Hammer on Thursday said.
The probe into Newport comes as President Donald Trump’s administration initiated 18 Title IX investigations on Wednesday. Another Maine district, RSU 57, which covers Waterboro, Alfred, Lyman, Newfield, Limerick and Shapleigh, is also under investigation. The announcement Wednesday did not immediately state what actions were under investigation.
The school was “surprised” to learn of the investigation because there is no record of a complaint about the cheerleading program and it is co-ed activity where no one is cut from the squad, Hammer said.
“I do not currently have any information about bathroom and locker room use by this student and RSU 19 does not have a policy on this subject at this time,” Hammer said.
The district is confident no laws have been violated and will cooperate with the investigation, Hammer said.
“This is a very challenging issue for everyone involved and we will work through this together,” Hammer said.
RSU 57 complies with all state and federal discrimination and harassment laws, Superintendent Stephen Marquis said. The district will give the OCR the information requested, he said.
Marquis said the district has no further comment.