A complaint about gender discrimination with Canyon High’s athletic facilities prompted a federal investigation into softball field and facility conditions at Canyon High in Santa Clarita, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.
he Department of Education is investigating allegations regarding inequality with respect to the Canyon Country high school’s baseball and softball facilities. Hart district officials said they have not been notified of the formal complaint as of Friday morning.
“We haven’t seen the complaint, yet,” said Gail Pinsker, Hart district spokeswoman. “We will respond to a complaint that comes in as we always do, in a timely manner, and report and respond to the community and the media, to every allegation that’s presented to us.”
Canyon High softball head coach Tim Melton said while he didn’t file the complaint, he has had dialogue with Hart district officials, including at Canyon High and at the district office, over facilities concerns.
One of the issues cited in the Title IX complaint was an aging equipment shed with holes that allowed rats to crawl around near the team’s gear.
Melton said he had a concern about the equipment shed, but it was brought to the district staff and district officials began the process for acquiring a new shed, which was confirmed by district officials.
The complaint also cites the lack of a proper irrigation system, leaving the outfield a dirt patch where grass should be.
Melton said he did have two concerns about the Canyon High softball facilities based around the risks they posed to his players, he said.
The waist-high collapsible mesh fence that lines the outfield leads to players frequently trip over the barrier in pursuit of long drives. A chain-link fence could really help alleviate concern.
There are also gopher holes in the dirt-covered outfield that caused an incoming freshman to hurt her ankle last year, he said. He said he’s already contacted the district regarding these concerns.
The Hart district has a year-round maintenance schedule for all of its facilities, which district officials are working to make public, Pinsker said, adding the situation with Canyon High right now is a unique one.
The ryegrass planted typically looks as though its dead this time of year, Pinsker said, but more significantly, recent upgrades to the school’s football field has prompted excessive use of the softball field by groups such as the football and marching band programs, which aren’t usually on there.
The fact that the Hart district-owned field operates on a joint-use permit with the city — meaning other uses are allowed with a permit — does not mean there’s a lack of facility equity, Pinsker said.
While the city is allowd use of the field, maintenance of the facility is a Hart district responsibility, said Gail Morgan, spokeswoman for the city of Santa Clarita.
The complaint alleges the school is slow to respond to concerns unless they involve the football or baseball teams.
Any perceived inequity could also result from the fact that schools frequently have booster clubs and programs with the capability of improving facilities beyond the districtwide standards, she said.
While the district has a consistent standard for its fields, that wouldn’t preclude parents, alumni and community members from raising money on their own to support improvements.
“The safety of our students is the No. 1 priority,” Pinsker said, “but we do have standards that we keep our facilities at.”
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12 Comments
This made me laugh “The waist-high collapsible mesh fence that lines the outfield leads to players frequently trip over the barrier in pursuit of long drives. A chain-link fence could really help alleviate concern.” You ever run into a chain link fence running at full speed? It does a lot of things but alleviate concern is not one of them.
Oh jeez. I played softball for 2 years at canyon. One of the best experiences of my life. The year I left all this shiz started happening with coaches. I just don’t understand how they could mess with such an amazing program at canyon.
I played baseball at canyon for four years and coached there, as well as other schools in Santa Clarita. In my experience, a player who runs into a chain link fence has zero awareness of where they are or where the fence is. A chain link fence is at least a solid fixture that promotes more pride in your facility then a temporary mesh “fence”. I do agree that booster clubs should be more proactive concerning field and facility upgrades. I’m also realistic that Canyon Country schools raise considerably less money than Valencia schools. This is an observation based on my own experience. There are also district concerns. When I coached baseball at Golden Valley High, I was told that GV and West Ranch were “sister schools”. Yet, at GV, the district had complete control of the water. Hence the terrible grass conditions…ever see the field at WR? Beautiful… Also, at Canyon and GV, they allow the soccer team or the football team to practice on the baseball field. People really don’t understand what those round plastic cleats really do to a baseball field.
I played baseball at canyon for four years and coached there, as well as other schools in Santa Clarita. In my experience, a player who runs into a chain link fence has zero awareness of where they are or where the fence is. A chain link fence is at least a solid fixture that promotes more pride in your facility then a temporary mesh “fence”. I do agree that booster clubs should be more proactive concerning field and facility upgrades. I’m also realistic that Canyon Country schools raise considerably less money than Valencia schools. This is an observation based on my own experience. There are also district concerns. When I coached baseball at Golden Valley High, I was told that GV and West Ranch were “sister schools”. Yet, at GV, the district had complete control of the water. Hence the terrible grass conditions…ever see the field at WR? Beautiful… Also, at Canyon and GV, they allow the soccer team or the football team to practice on the baseball field. People really don’t understand what those round plastic cleats really do to a baseball field.
A chain link fence would get in the way of the JV football team practice, which takes place on the softball field outfield.
Pretty sure I’ve never seen them on the baseball field.
A chain link fence would get in the way of the JV football team practice, which takes place on the softball field outfield.
Pretty sure I’ve never seen them on the baseball field.
Just for the record.. Neither soccer or football practice on the baseball field at canyon.
My son played baseball at Canyon for 4 years. Over that time, the parents, kids, and coaches worked very hard to make sure that the field was safe and pleasant and it is. However, I firmly believe the softball players are starting at a disadvantage with a field that is in a public park, which is open to the public. They cannot have the same sense of ownership of their field and protect it in the same way the chain link and lock can protect the baseball field. With that said, girls are permitted to play baseball at Canyon without regard to any discrimination on the basis of their gender. Sports is too important for kids and should not just be an afterthought for boys or girls. I hope that this investigation can resolve some of the issues that exist throughout the district to create a fair, safe environment for all our children.
The girls play soccer on the turf,
Garrett lacey behnke , there is so much truth in everything that you said! A solid fence does provide more pride in a teams facility. And also running at full speed and going over a mesh fence doesn’t fell very good either, also they are short so its harder to pick up in the corner of your eye as your going back to track a ball. Anyways, after playing at saugus and football being in out outfield it just destroyed our out field. Softball deserves to have a nice and safe field to play on.
Exactly like glenn said, a soild fence would be in the way for JV football on the softball field. HAVE JV FOOTBALL PRACTICE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD!!!! the SOFTBALL field shouldn’t have to suffer because of another sport. Why is is softball has to share their field with football but football cant share its field with football
Right now all football levels are not practicing on the football field or the track areas because they have been under construction. The football program shares the field with band, soccer, track and field(my son does football, track and soccer), and other local schools without facilities. Upgrades benefit many programs. I also have a daughter who plays softball (not high school yet, but will) and agree they deserve a nice place to play, and it is unfortunate that they had to share during this time. Track had to go GV for their summer program, so many were effected. I can also tell you parent involvement and fund raising (tons of fundraising) are huge in the football program….