Huron Schools agrees to settle Title IX lawsuits

HURON — Huron school board members vowed to get it right, referring to the district's Title IX compliance, the federal law that guarantees equal access and equal protections for all students regardless of gender. Board members made the promise at a meeting Tuesday, during which they voted to approve tentative settlements in two Title IX lawsuits brought by two girls who contend they were sexually harassed and abused by a male student while still in middle school. The girls, who both left the school district after complaining that they were mistreated by school officials after reporting the behavior, will each receive a monetary award under the agreements. One of the girls will receive $375,000 and the other will receive $250,000. Board members went into a closed-door executive session for about 20 minutes on Tuesday and then emerged to vote on the settlements. Board president Jody Mast read a statement after the votes: On behalf of the Huron City Schools board of education, we appreciate the efforts of all parties in bringing this matter closer to resolution. The events underlying this litigation have caused a great deal of emotions within our community. It is the board's hope that this resolution will be an important step in helping our community to heal. All money to be paid out under this settlement will be paid entirely by the district's insurance company. Looking forward, the board commits to getting Title IX right. We are working closely with our new superintendent and outside experts to fully review the district's Title IX program in light of the new regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of Education in June. When this work is completed, the district will update all students, parents, staff and community stakeholders. Every Huron student deserves an educational environment where they are safe, respected and able to do their best. This new board and our new district leadership team will hold ourselves and our district accountable to ensuring that our words and actions facilitate compliance and positive student outcomes." Title IX, the landmark federal law that turned 50 years old this year, requires public schools to treat all students as equals regardless of gender who can't "be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." In June, the U.S. Department of Education announced proposed Title IX updates that, if implemented, would: • Clearly protect students and employees from all forms of sex discrimination • Provide full protection from sex-based harassment • Protect the right of parents and guardians to support their elementary and secondary school children • Require schools to take prompt and effective action to end any sex discrimination in their education programs or activities and to prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects • Protect students and employees who are pregnant or have pregnancy-related conditions • Require schools to respond promptly to all complaints of sex discrimination with a fair and reliable process that includes trained, unbiased decision-makers to evaluate the evidence • Require schools to provide supportive measures to students and employees affected by conduct that may constitute sex discrimination, including students who have brought complaints or been accused of sex-based harassment • Protect LGBTQI+ students from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics • Clarify and confirm protection from retaliation for students, employees and others who exercise their Title IX rights • Improve the adaptability of the regulations' grievance procedure requirements so that all recipients can implement Title IX's promise of nondiscrimination fully and fairly in their educational environments • Ensure that schools share their nondiscrimination policies with all students, employees and other participants in their education programs or activities. Superintendent James Tatman said when district staff meet next week before the 2022-23 school year starts, employees will be reminded of Title IX regulations by Woodlands Intermediate principal Mark Doughty, the district's Title IX coordinator. Board member Stacy Hinners, an attorney, told community members at the meeting what was happening before the board voted on the settlements. "Because these (settlements) involve minors, we agree to approve our piece of the agreement, and then it needs to be approved by a probate court before anything's finalized," she said. "The probate court has to look and make sure it's in the best interest of the minors. We would certainly come back in a public meeting and let the public know when it's officially finalized, at least in terms of board action."