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  • February 14, 2025
Supt. Coates declines to speak about the Title IX investigation

Supt. Coates declines to speak about the Title IX investigation

OWASSO, Okla. – School officials in Owasso are silent on Title IX.

Nearly a month ago, the U.S. Department of Education released the findings of an investigation into Owasso Public Schools’ handling of Title IX cases.

Oklahoma was the only television station present at the Dec. 9 board meeting, the first since the findings were released Nov. 13.
When Chief Inspector Dr. Contacted by 2 News Oklahoma at the end of the meeting, Margaret Coates declined to comment. The superintendent even objected to the 2 News crew approaching her directly at a public meeting, preferring to go through the district’s media relations representative.

Prior to the meeting, 2 News Oklahoma made multiple attempts to contact Dr. Coates through the media relations department, but to no avail.

Chief among the Title IX cases investigated is the death of Nex Benedict. Benedict, an OPS student, committed suicide last spring.

The investigation also included cases of bullying and a teacher caring for students. That teacher sent more than a hundred text messages to three different female students. The U.S. Department of Education found that OPS failed to meet its Title IX duties.

“Apparently people don’t feel safe here, I can’t imagine why,” an Owasso parent said at a school board meeting in the spring. child and make sure it never happens again.”
Such comments are rare. That parent spoke immediately after Benedict’s death, but since then there has been radio silence at board meetings about that case or any other Title IX matter.

Dr. Coates and Mark Officer, the district’s Title IX chief, both spoke at length during the meeting.

The investigation’s findings were released on November 13. The agenda for the December 9 board meeting was published on December 6.

Ninety minute meeting, two presentations by Dr. Coates, two of Mr. Officer, no mention of the investigation.


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