RCS Launches Investigation into Volleyball Program Incident
On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Richmond High School Head Volleyball Coach was placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation into an incident that occurred on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, involving the volleyball program. RCS encourages our entire community to remain objective and not arrive at conclusions until our investigation is complete. Our goal is to diligently review the incident and limit further disruptions for the remainder of the volleyball season.
The incident in question centers around a rule found within the 2024-2025 Indiana High School Athletic Association Member School By-Laws & Articles. RHS Athletic Director Robert Lee states that IHSAA Rule 15-2.3 specifies that “throughout the year particular athletic programs can partake in limited contact sport-specific activities three days a week (IHSAA 15-2.4). Beginning September 2, 2024, our winter sports programs entered into their limited contact period. Prior to this period, our athletic department reviewed, reflected, and revised our facility usage calendar so as to continue with the scheduled accommodations of our in-season sports while also considering facility usage for our sports moving into their respective limited contact period.”
“Our goal is always to serve as many student-athletes as possible with the gym space we have. When it comes to facility usage, my philosophy is and has always been that in-season sports have priority unless timing and capacity dictate otherwise,” says Lee. “When it comes to timing, we prefer that gym space not sit unused. Therefore, when in-season programs are not scheduled to use particular gym space, we will accommodate additional programs so as to maximize the space and the available timing of the space. The other exception is capacity. We want to put the larger groups in the larger space. Our goal is to try and do what is best for all-student athletes.”
It was recently rumored that a Title IX complaint had been issued to RCS administration. At this time, RCS has not received any official Title IX complaints internally or externally. It was also rumored that another athletic program attempted to displace our volleyball program from the Tiernan Center main floor and that rumor is also untrue. At this time, speculation, innuendo, rhetoric, and propaganda will only serve as a deterrent to our entire athletic community. Furthermore, it does harm to our students, our coaches/sponsors, and our school community at-large. RHS remains in compliance with IHSAA mandates and in compliance with RCS policy. Utilizing this incident as a teachable moment for all involved is what our profession is all about and we will continue to work to that end.
In related news, several months ago our corporation proactively began discussions centered around equity and Title IX. From such conversations, it was determined that we would partner with an external vendor to conduct a review of curricular/extracurricular offerings. Over the past two months our administration has been working with Church, Church, Hittle, and Antrim Law (CCHA) to outline the scope of such an audit. Weeks ago it was decided that at our October 9, 2024, school board meeting administration would be recommending for approval an agreement with CCHA to conduct a Title IX audit. Again, the preemptive audit will provide our corporation with data that we will use to further improve the overall RCS experience for all students.
We sincerely appreciate our community’s objectivity, patience and support as we address this matter accordingly. It is encouraged that you refrain from drawing conclusions regarding this matter until our investigation is complete.
The incident in question centers around a rule found within the 2024-2025 Indiana High School Athletic Association Member School By-Laws & Articles. RHS Athletic Director Robert Lee states that IHSAA Rule 15-2.3 specifies that “throughout the year particular athletic programs can partake in limited contact sport-specific activities three days a week (IHSAA 15-2.4). Beginning September 2, 2024, our winter sports programs entered into their limited contact period. Prior to this period, our athletic department reviewed, reflected, and revised our facility usage calendar so as to continue with the scheduled accommodations of our in-season sports while also considering facility usage for our sports moving into their respective limited contact period.”
“Our goal is always to serve as many student-athletes as possible with the gym space we have. When it comes to facility usage, my philosophy is and has always been that in-season sports have priority unless timing and capacity dictate otherwise,” says Lee. “When it comes to timing, we prefer that gym space not sit unused. Therefore, when in-season programs are not scheduled to use particular gym space, we will accommodate additional programs so as to maximize the space and the available timing of the space. The other exception is capacity. We want to put the larger groups in the larger space. Our goal is to try and do what is best for all-student athletes.”
It was recently rumored that a Title IX complaint had been issued to RCS administration. At this time, RCS has not received any official Title IX complaints internally or externally. It was also rumored that another athletic program attempted to displace our volleyball program from the Tiernan Center main floor and that rumor is also untrue. At this time, speculation, innuendo, rhetoric, and propaganda will only serve as a deterrent to our entire athletic community. Furthermore, it does harm to our students, our coaches/sponsors, and our school community at-large. RHS remains in compliance with IHSAA mandates and in compliance with RCS policy. Utilizing this incident as a teachable moment for all involved is what our profession is all about and we will continue to work to that end.
In related news, several months ago our corporation proactively began discussions centered around equity and Title IX. From such conversations, it was determined that we would partner with an external vendor to conduct a review of curricular/extracurricular offerings. Over the past two months our administration has been working with Church, Church, Hittle, and Antrim Law (CCHA) to outline the scope of such an audit. Weeks ago it was decided that at our October 9, 2024, school board meeting administration would be recommending for approval an agreement with CCHA to conduct a Title IX audit. Again, the preemptive audit will provide our corporation with data that we will use to further improve the overall RCS experience for all students.
We sincerely appreciate our community’s objectivity, patience and support as we address this matter accordingly. It is encouraged that you refrain from drawing conclusions regarding this matter until our investigation is complete.
