Andy Amsdill hired a lawyer over Lakeview High School’s rule requiring parents to report how long a girl’s period lasts to make up missed swimming days in gym class. Another parent says his daughter’s refusal to share the information affected her gym grade; she earned a C.
Lakeview’s physical-education syllabus says girls who miss pool swimming because of their periods can make up the days with dry-land workouts, but a parent must submit a written or emailed note stating the period’s duration. Days not made up count as nonparticipation and can lower the grade. Amsdill said the school offered to waive the requirement for his daughter after he complained, but he wants it addressed for everyone.
At the Friday meeting Superintendent Karl Paulson had sought, Amsdill’s attorney Jamie White said neither Paulson nor the teacher attended; administrators who were there defended the staff’s handling, and Amsdill left more frustrated. Civil-rights attorney Jon Marko, who reviewed the syllabus, said the rule could potentially violate Title IX; he separately told WXYZ it could also run afoul of Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. No violation has been decided. Lakeview did not respond to CBS News Detroit’s request for comment.
