Monroe schools cleared in Title IX probe as critics call findings a cover-up

District says claims were unsubstantiated and privacy protected, while outside legal group alleges failures and lack of transparency

MONROE, Mich. — A months-long investigation into a Title IX complaint in Monroe Public Schools has found no violations, but the outcome is now being sharply disputed by a public interest law firm representing a parent involved in the case.

It’s important to note the investigation was paid for by the school district.

In a letter to families dated April 9, Superintendent Andrew Shaw said an independent investigator concluded the district met its obligations under federal law, including providing equal access to sports, maintaining a safe environment, and protecting student privacy.

“The investigation concluded that the claims against the District were unsubstantiated,” Shaw wrote, adding that the district remains committed to transparency while legal processes continue.

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The district also acknowledged concerns raised during the investigation and said it plans to review internal procedures and communication practices moving forward. As part of that, officials noted a change to locker room policies, no longer allowing shared locker rooms with opposing teams.

But the findings are being challenged by the Thomas More Law Center, which issued a news release accusing the district of conducting a flawed investigation and failing to fully inform the public.

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The law center, representing parent Sean Lechner and his daughter, claims the process “was corrupted” and designed to shield school officials from accountability. The group argues the district’s own policies allowed a transgender athlete to compete against Monroe’s girls team and use female locker rooms, something it says was not properly disclosed in the final report.

Richard Thompson, chief counsel for the organization, said the investigation “was never about finding the truth,” but instead about protecting administrators.

Lechner also claims parents and students were not informed ahead of time about the situation during a September 2025 volleyball match involving Ann Arbor Skyline High School, raising concerns about transparency and student privacy.

The district, however, maintains the investigation found no wrongdoing under Title IX standards and emphasized that the scope of the review was limited to whether federal law was violated.

In a frequently asked questions document, the district said the investigator determined it met its obligations regarding equal access to teams and maintained a safe environment free from actionable harassment.

Officials also said the full report cannot yet be released due to ongoing legal considerations and privacy concerns, noting it has only been shared with district leadership and attorneys involved in the case.

While the district stands by the findings, it acknowledged the situation raised broader concerns beyond Title IX compliance.

“While no Title IX violations were substantiated, the District recognizes that the process raised valid procedural questions,” the district said.

Further developments could depend on ongoing legal actions and whether additional details from the investigation are made public.