Greely High School Title IX audit finds inequity in athletics

 Greely softball pitcher Katie Wallace winds up during a game against Freeport in May 2025. (Cooper Sullivan/Staff Writer) An external Title IX audit of the Cumberland-North Yarmouth high school athletic department found some instances of female athletes and teams getting lesser treatment. The athletic department has already made changes and work is underway to remedy other violations, according to Jeff Porter, superintendent of Maine School Administrative District 51. [Title IX](https://www.pressherald.com/2022/06/26/what-is-title-ix-and-what-impact-has-it-had-2/), the 1972 federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education, requires schools to provide equivalent — but not necessarily identical — opportunities, treatment and benefits to male and female athletes. This includes equitable practice and game time, equipment, publicity and the use of private funds. Following a complaint about a Title IX violation last year and community conversations about the unequal treatment of girls teams, the district hired the law firm Drummond Woodsum to conduct a review of the gender equity within the Greely High School athletic program, said Porter. Related [What is Title IX and what impact has it had?](https://www.pressherald.com/2022/06/26/what-is-title-ix-and-what-impact-has-it-had-2/) “I want to know what we’re doing. I want to know what … areas that we need to improve in, if there’s any, and certainly there was,” said Porter. In fall 2025, the legal counsel examined athletic department policies, team rosters, budgets, sports offerings, the use of athletic facilities, coach contracts and stipends and booster club handbooks. They also interviewed the high school athletic director, the district’s Title IX coordinator and 16 coaches who volunteered to take part. Advertisement Several months into the review, the school administration requested that the legal counsel pause the audit. Administrators wanted to address concerns that were already noted “without having to wait,” according to the preliminary report. In December, the legal counsel outlined its preliminary findings and recommendation, which Porter presented to the school board this month, outlining actions the athletic department has been taking or will take in response. Porter said that while the report was initially confidential and for internal review only, the implementation of the report’s recommendations and mention of it in budget discussions sparked questions that prompted him to present it to the MSAD 51 board of directors on June 3. The audit found that within the Greely student body, there is a roughly equal gender distribution in participation in athletics, with about half of both boys and girls getting involved in at least one of the high school’s 29 sports teams. The legal counsel also found less preference given to some girls teams. The initial audit determined the scheduling of fields and the gym for practices and games broadly disadvantaged girls teams. Lesser quality outdoor fields were more often provided to female athletes, and games and practices for girls teams were often scheduled for inconvenient times. Advertisement The investigation found that certain coaches were in charge of designing the schedule, leading to complaints including from coaches of girls teams. Starting last fall, before the initial report was completed, all coaches must meet with the athletic director to collectively design the schedule. [ Related [Rowan Barry doesn’t let an injury derail her state championship goals](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/06/rowan-barry-doesnt-let-an-injury-derail-her-state-championship-goals/) The legal counsel noted more sport-specific inequalities. It found that equipment provided for the girls softball team was not comparable to that given to the boys baseball team, with female athletes getting less access to batting cages and other training aids. The baseball field also appeared to be maintained to a higher degree than the softball field. In response, the district’s budget, [which voters approved on Tuesday](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/10/despite-no-from-north-yarmouth-msad-51-budget-passes/), includes additional funds to improve access batting cages, practice areas, as well as uniforms for some girls teams. Both Greely hockey teams practice at Family Ice Center in Falmouth, which only has one locker room. The audit found that the boys team used the locker room for practice, while the girls team did not have access to a locker room and had to also transport their equipment to and from the rink for every practice, whereas the boys could store their gear at the rink. Going forward, the teams will alternate use of the locker room, said Porter. “It’s not our facility; however, it is our responsibility,” he said. Advertisement Additionally, the boys hockey team takes an annual trip to Boston to watch a Boston Bruins game, while the girls attend a Maine Mariners game in Portland. The Mariners are an affiliate of the Bruins. “Simply, these are not equivalent experiences,” said the report. The hockey trips, as well as other opportunities, are funded by booster clubs, which are run by parents and student athletes to fundraise for specific sports teams. Title IX requires private money, such as what is given to booster clubs, to be used equitability. The district will establish clear guidelines and administrative oversight for booster fundraising and activities, said Porter. “This is in no way saying, ‘No, thank you,’” said Porter. “It’s just our responsibility in the district to make sure it’s equitable.” A follow-up presentation the board from Athletic Director David Shapiro is scheduled for Oct. 1 with more specific responses to the report. Shapiro directed a request for comment to the superintendent. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [greely high school](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/greely-high-school/), [greely rangers](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/greely-rangers/), [high school sports](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/high-school-sports/), [title ix](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/title-ix/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/sophie-burchell) [Sophie BurchellStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/sophie-burchell) Sophie is a community reporter for Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth and Falmouth and previously reported for the Forecaster. Her memories of briefly living on Mount Desert Island as a child drew her. [More by Sophie Burchell](https://www.pressherald.com/author/sophie-burchell)