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Colerain and students settle lawsuit

Ann Thompson
/
WVXU
The picture was taken at a news conference the plaintiffs held this spring after filing the lawsuit.

Creation of a diversity respect program is at the center of a settlement between the Northwest Local School District and four former and current Colerain High School students who sued the district in a federal lawsuit in April, 2014. Plaintiffs claimed violation of free speech rights and discrimination of race.

All students, faculty and administrators will have to participate in the program, which could become a national model.

Plantiffs' attorney Bob Newman praises the school for taking this step. He says, "Colerain is really being very bold and seizing this opportunity to turn a lawsuit into something that is going to be of lasting nature to the school and I really admire them for doing this."

This spring WVXUreported on the lawsuit after a news conference by the plaintiffs, who claimed:

"(Colerain) suspended and expelled them (the 4 students) for participating in rap music videos and displaying hip-hop hand gestures in photographs taken outside of school hours and posted to personal social media accounts."

In April school attorney John Concannon said the video, pictures and gang allegations had nothing to do with why the students were suspended and expelled. He said, "What they were disciplined for was their threatening activity towards other students on campus, through social media, also face to face on campus and through social media."

The Settlement:

  • The parties will meet and plan a diversity respect program to be given at Colerain High School before the end of the 2014-15 school year.
  • The purpose of the diversity respect program is to "foster racial understanding."
  • The district will expunge the expulsions of the plaintiffs.
  • The district will restore the plaintiffs' grades.
  • The district will pay attorney fees, costs and expenses.

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.