Broward school fined after biological male played on girls volleyball team
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Monarch High School was fined and put on administrative probation following an investigation that concluded a biological male played on the girls’ varsity volleyball team, according documents Florida’s Voice obtained.
On Tuesday, the Florida High School Athletic Association notified Monarch High School and its principal, Moira Sweeting-Miller, that the school violated FHSA bylaws and Florida Statute.
The letter stated that the high school “permitted a biological male to participate on the girls volleyball team during the 2022-2023 and 2023-24 Girls Volleyball seasons.”
“Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida passed legislation to protect girls’ sports and we will not tolerate any school that violates this law,” Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said.
“We applaud the swift action taken by the Florida High School Athletic Association to ensure there are serious consequences for this illegal behavior,” the commissioner continued.
Reports said the student in question was participating on the team was transitioning into a girl. The district was fined $500 for each game, totaling to a $16,500 fine.
“The District is in receipt of the letter from the Florida High School Athletic Association regarding the recent incident at Monarch High School. The District’s investigation into the matter remains ongoing at this time,” a Broward County Public Schools spokesperson said.
In June 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping education bill that bars biological men from participating on a team or sport designated for biological females.
In particular, “biological male” is based on the student’s official birth certificate at the time of birth. The law also pertains to interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a public secondary school, high school, public college, or university institution.
Nicknamed the Knights, Monarch girls’ volleyball finished their season with a 13-7 record. The team earned a No. 3 overall seed in the District 13-7A playoffs before bowing out to No. 2 seed Marjory Stoneman Douglas in the district semifinals.
“As a father of two daughters, I want my girls, and every girl in Florida, to compete on an even playing field for the opportunities available to young women in sports,” DeSantis said after signing SB 1028. “Women have fought for decades to have equal opportunities in athletics, and we have to prevent those opportunities from being eroded as is happening in other states.”
