Multi Sports Field Topic of Discussion at School Board Meeting
Jefferson County High School is on its way to an athletic facility upgrade that will answer the needs of several student athletes, as well as putting Title IX concerns to rest. Thursday, March 14, 2019, the Jefferson County School Board met in a Work Session/Voting meeting at the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. The School Board listened as a handful of people made public their opinions regarding the drawing that will adorn the center a multi – sport field. Current drawings show an interlocking JC midfield but some former students favored keeping the “fighting patriot” emblem which is has spent the past few season on the fifty yard line. One High School student, Darin Breeden from the JCHS sideline club and the mother of a female wrestler spoke in favor of keeping the current emblem. A middle school volleyball coach and teacher spoke in favor of the interlocking JC which she considered to be more in line with a multi use field and JCHS Athletic Director Randy Rogers addressed the Board stating his support of changing the logo to the interlocking JC to insure the representation of a multi use field. Though renovations to the athletic field were one the final items on the agenda, the topic of a mid field emblem held a portion of the meeting attendees in their seats until the completion. Total attendance for the late week meeting was high due to a combination of agenda items including teachers of the year, Mt Horeb Safety Patrol and the Maury Middle School Yearbook team, as well as interest in the emblem.
Director of Schools Johnston addressed the School Board and the audience regarding the emblem change. He stated that he had done excessive research on emblems that have adorned the fifty yard line through the history of Jefferson County High School. The current emblem of a Patriot holding a football in a three point stance has been used approximately 15 of the 45 years of JCHS football, though not consecutive years. It is not the mascot for Jefferson County High School, but, rather, a symbol of the football team. Dr. Johnston stated that, as the new facility was presented as, funded as and would serve as a multi sports game field, a mid field emblem that represented the school as a whole, rather than one sport, was appropriate. The Director said that, after much research, it appeared that the interlocking JC was used by most teams on uniforms and equipment. He acknowledged that some in the community feel attached to the current emblem and reiterated that the change was his decision and was not meant to be disrespectful of the history of Jefferson County but to be inclusive of all student athletes that would be using the field. The School Board Attorney, Scott Bennett, stated that the current emblem could trigger a Title IX investigation if a complaint were to be filed. He informed the Board that he had checked with the Office of Civil Rights and his concerns were confirmed. Title IX requires equal publicity for male and female sports, among a list of other checks and balances. A multi sport facility with a clearly male sport emblem adorning the mid field would suggest that female sports did not have equal ownership of the facility. This, combined with other recent potential violations that precipitated the facility upgrade, could be problematic and costly, according the the attorney.
Following discussion and a failed motion from School Board member Fair to have the Board determine what emblem would adorn the field, the Board followed previous policy in other renovations and left the responsibility of choosing the aesthetics to the Director and his team. Dr. Johnston will move forward with the plan as it was presented to the School Board.
In other business, the Board approved several field trips and policies on the first reading. They also approved four budget amendments and membership dues to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Board Members heard a presentation from the Jefferson County Anglers and with a motion from Solomon and 2nd from Jarnigan mover $160,000 out of annual capital outlay operating budget for the new welding program at Jefferson County High School. At the recommendation of the Director of Jefferson County Finance, the Board made no changes in their retiree coverage for the next fiscal year. With a motion from Jarnigan and 2nd from Pinkerton, the Board approved $125,000 from reserve account for a professional needs assessment for Jefferson County Schools ( Fair No). They were also informed that the insurance issue with the Jefferson County Fair Grounds has been resolved.
