Oklahoma school district failed to protect students from discrimination: Report

[Craig Nigrelli]

A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN OKLAHOMA MUST REVIEW AND POTENTIALLY REVISE ITS ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICIES AFTER A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOUND IT FAILED TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT. THE PROBE CAME ABOUT AFTER THE DEATH OF LGBTQ+ STUDENT, 16-YEAR-OLD NEX BENEDICT, IN FEBRUARY.
BENEDICT WAS A STUDENT AT OWASSO HIGH SCHOOL AND IDENTIFIED AS GENDER EXPANSIVE, WHICH MEANS ONE WHOSE GENDER IDENTITY EXPANDS BEYOND TRADITIONAL NORMS. THE TEEN DIED OF AN OVERDOSE AFTER THE TEEN’S FAMILY SAYS BENEDICT WAS BULLIED AT SCHOOL.
THE STUDENT USED THE PRONOUNS, HE, HIM, THEY AND THEM. THE CASE GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION AND OUTRAGED LGBTQ+ ACTIVISTS.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS SETTLED THE COMPLAINT AGAINST OWASSO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS WEEK.

Catherine Lhamon, the assistant secretary for civil rights at the department, said quote “Owasso students and their families did not receive the fair and equitable review process from their school district guaranteed to them under TITLE IX. At worst, some students experienced discrimination Congress has long guaranteed they shall not endure at school. “

IN ADDITION, THE FEDERAL AGENCY IDENTIFIED REPEATED INSTANCES, OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, WHEN STAFF AT OWASSO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE TOLD OF POSSIBLE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST CHILDREN, BUT DID NOT RESPOND ADEQUATELY. THE LACK OF ACTION ROSE TO THE LEVEL OF BEING DELIBERATELY INDIFFERENT.
FOR ITS PART, A SCHOOL DISTRICT SPOKESPERSON SAID THE DISTRICT FULLY COOPERATED WITH THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND IS COMMITTED TO MAKING THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO ENHANCE SAFETY AND INCLUSIVITY IN ITS SCHOOLS.
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