Feds accuse school district of girls sports discrimination

Some sports, such as cross country, feature boys and girls teams while sports like volleyball mirror football in offering opportunities for female athletes.

The Mountain Home School District is one of 75 of the 115 school districts in the state listed in a 600-page complaint by the federal Civil Rights Office in Seattle alleging violations of the Title IX program.

School district officials, many of whom were on vacation last week when the complaint was announced, said they did not believe a follow-up investigation will show there is any merit to the allegations.

"There is no intent to discriminate," said school board chairman Jim Alexander. "We try to offer a full range of programs for both boys and girls, equally. The problem, really, is just getting them (girls) to participate."

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