John L. Braese
Although EOS normally stays with high school sports in our area, we occasionally report to you news of importance pertaining to subjects you have stated a need to know. This article is one of those. EOS has quietly been following John Parks, the former track and field coach for Lake Oswego and leader of a two-time state championship team at the 6A level.
PORTLAND – A federal judge on Friday, Nov. 22 did state an email sent to the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) by John Parks is free speech but did not order the Lake Oswego School District to reinstate Parks to his position as track coach.
The lawsuit between the two parties came about after Parks protested to the OSAA a transgendered student athlete competing in the state track and field meet. Parks requested the OSAA to create an open division for student athletes participating as transgendered.
After the May 15 email was made from Parks’ personal email account, the Lake Oswego district terminated his coaching contract.
“I do think, frankly, that the May 15 email does fall within protected speech made by a private citizen,” U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon said.
Simon did not order the district to reinstate Parks as coach or at his former position as a special education teaching assistant.
The district argued in court the coaching duties were a temporary contract and was simply not renewed.
Parks wrote in his email the OSAA policy on transgender athletes had “major flaws” and that the state meet’s inclusion of a transgender athlete would be a “major distraction for all the athletes”. The email was sent to the OSAA on Parks’ personal email account, not the school’s email system.
Parks did receive a text message from the Lake Oswego athletic director three days after the email stating “We need to remind our kids to remain classy and respectful. They have transgender teammates and classmates. They are representing themselves, but our team and school.” The text also stated any actions by the student athletes at the state meet could create “a lot of blowback and negative attention” on the school.
A Lake Oswego runner ultimately won a 400-meter race over a McDaniel High School transgender runner.
After Parks was dismissed from his coaching duties, Lake Oswego principal wrote Parks was “insubordinate” and had discriminated against the McDaniel athlete. Parks was later asked to reapply for the coaching job over the summer. In court, Parks stated he did reapply as requested with the district stating they never received the application.
If Lake Oswego is made the take Parks back remains to be seen as the judge will issue a written decision at a later date. Both Parks and the Lake Oswego district have been instructed to prepare for a trial date.
