A Michigan father has retained an attorney after objecting to a Lakeview High School gym syllabus that asks parents to disclose how long their daughters' menstrual periods last in order to excuse missed pool days.
Andy Amsdill first noticed the policy when his freshman daughter brought home a physical education syllabus from Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, about 15 miles northeast of Detroit. Under a section labeled 'Non-Swim Days for Pool Only,' the syllabus says girls who miss swimming because of their periods may make up missed days through dry-land workouts, but it also requires 'a written/email note from a parent stating the length of the menstrual duration.' The syllabus warns that any missed day not made up counts as non-participation and can affect a student's standing on the school's grade reduction scale.
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Parent Pushback and School Response
Amsdill told local station WXYZ that the teacher asked parents to send an email or note stating the suspected length of the cycle. After he raised concerns, school officials reportedly offered to waive the disclosure requirement for his daughter, but Amsdill said he wanted the policy changed for all students rather than receiving a one-off exemption.
Lakeview Public Schools Superintendent Karl Paulson acknowledged the concerns and said the district intended to meet with Amsdill, stressing a commitment to 'educational excellence and best practices.' That meeting took place on a Friday morning, but Amsdill later retained attorney Jamie White, who told CBS News Detroit that neither Paulson nor the teacher attended the session. According to White, the administrators who did attend defended the staff's handling of the syllabus, and Amsdill left the meeting feeling more frustrated.
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'I've been doing this now for 25 years, and this is one of the most boneheaded policies that I've ever encompassed,' said attorney Jamie White. Lakeview did not respond to CBS's request for comment after the meeting.
Potential Consequences and Legal Concerns
Another parent, Bryan Shishakly, told CBS that his daughter encountered the same requirement last year and that it affected her grade: 'She's a straight-A student, and she ended up with a C in gym.' White warned that such a policy could have real consequences for students seeking scholarships or academic honors.
Civil-rights attorney Jon Marko, who reviewed the syllabus, said he found the provision troubling both as a lawyer and as a parent. 'It's creepy, I'd be creeped out,' Marko told CBS. He added the rule could potentially violate federal Title IX protections and Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of sex. Whether the school’s requirement actually violates those laws has not been determined.
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Broader Context
The issue follows a similar controversy in 2023, when the Florida High School Athletic Association faced backlash over a proposal to require menstrual-history questions on student-athlete medical forms. After complaints from parents, students and medical professionals, the association voted to remove the menstrual-history questions and said student medical details should remain with healthcare providers or parents while schools receive only clearance information.
The Lakeview dispute underscores tensions between school administrative procedures, student privacy and parents' expectations. The case may lead to further discussions within the district and could prompt legal review if challenged formally.
