Latest news with #DavidsonCountySchools
Fox News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Student suspended for saying 'illegal aliens' in class gets cash, apology from school
A school district in North Carolina has been ordered to admit their mistake, issue an apology, fork over $20,000, and more after they were sued for suspending a 16-year-old student who used the term "illegal aliens." The settlement was approved on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, following a year-long legal battle after a 16-year-old student and his parents sued Davidson County Schools for the mischaracterization of racial bias and violation of the student's First Amendment rights. "Although the parties initially moved to seal the revised settlement agreement, they have since withdrawn any request to seal any version of their settlement," Judge Thomas Schroeder stated in his Tuesday order. The 16-year-old student was suspended in April of last year after using the term "illegal aliens" during an English class discussion. "Do you mean space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards?" the student asked. The student was later suspended for three days and marks denoting "racially insensitive behavior" were added to his permanent record. The story of Christian McGhee caught the eyes of Donald Trump, who wrote the student a personal recommendation letter as he seeks an athletic scholarship in the years ahead, according to the Liberty Justice Center, which helped with the litigation. In addition to the public apology required in the settlement, McGhee's school must correct his permanent record so it no longer denotes racial insensitivity and acknowledge "the inappropriate response to this matter by a former member." However, per Schroeder's order, the settlement does not amount to an admission of liability or wrongdoing. "As the Supreme Court has often reminded us in its First Amendment jurisprudence, students do not shed their free speech rights at the schoolhouse gate. That it took a federal lawsuit and ultimately a court-approved settlement (including an apology to Christian, and a payment of $20,000) is indicative of how far lost many educators have become in the wake of the previous administration's identity politics obsession," Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president and legal fellow at conservative nonprofit Defending Education, told Fox News Digital. "No more," Perry continued. "The mission of American education is rooted in the viewpoint diversity of a pluralistic society. Our hope is that after Christian's ordeal, schools will think twice about venturing into unconstitutional waters and trampling on the free speech rights of their students." According to the Liberty Justice Center, McGhee's mother spoke up in defense of her son after the incident happened, including at school board meetings, which led to an alleged attempt to smear her. The center claimed that two board members sent messages to county leaders and residents with the mother's arrest record and encouraged people to post it on social media. Neither Davidson County Schools, nor the district's board, responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside proposed $20K settlement after Davidson County Schools student suspended for alleged ‘racially motivated comment'
DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A would have Davidson County Schools pay a family $20,000 and issue a public apology after a The plaintiff's motion for settlement approval offers insight into the proposed settlement that will be heard in court in early July. While the filing says both parties have agreed to the settlement, it will not be final until a judge approves it. Forsyth County Board of Commissioners rejects $32 million request from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools According to the document, the district would pay the family $20,000, which will help to cover the costs of the student's new school. The school district would remove 'all reference to racial bias in [the student's] school record.' However, the district would leave the suspension unchanged due to the 'class disruption caused by the comments at issue.' The board would issue a public apology for 'mischaracterization of racial bias in [the student's] school records,' and a former member of the school board would issue an apology 'for additional inappropriate conduct after the suspension.' Dean McGee, senior counsel for Educational Freedom at the Liberty Justice Center, said in a statement, 'On Friday, we filed a motion asking the court to approve a settlement that would resolve this matter. Because [the student] is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final. We'll have more to say after that hearing, but we're pleased to take this important step toward clearing our client's name.' A spokesperson for the school district previously said they are unable to comment due to pending litigation. The incident happened on April 9, 2024, at Central Davidson High School. 'On April 9, my son received a write-up stating that he violated a board of education policy by using or making a racially motivated comment, saying that an alien needs a green card,' the boy's mother, Leah McGhee, said. The lawsuit claims the teen left class to go to the bathroom. He missed some of the lesson, and when he came back, the word 'aliens' was used during class discussion. The student reportedly asked if 'aliens' referred to 'space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards' and the teacher said to 'watch your mouth.' According to the suit, a Hispanic male classmate then threatened to beat the student up. That same day, the 16-year-old received a three-day out-of-school suspension. 'I cannot appeal this suspension since it is less than 10 days. Racism is only a three-day suspension with no appeal when it should be a top-tier punishment,' Leah McGhee said. The 16-year-old is no longer enrolled at the school because, according to the lawsuit, he received threats and was harassed about this situation. The student's parents, Leah and Chad McGhee, filed a lawsuit on behalf of their 16-year-old son and called on the school to reverse the suspension and remove it from the student's record. The lawsuit argues that the words 'alien,' 'illegal alien' and 'green cards' are common terms used in both state and federal law. It goes on to say the punishment was too harsh and his comment should have been protected under his First Amendment rights of free speech. 'There is nothing inappropriate about saying aliens need green cards, and there certainly isn't a case for racism due to the fact that alien is not a race,' Leah told the school board in May 2024. The McGhee family asked the courts to require a public apology from the school board, reverse the suspension, remove it from the student's record, remove unexcused absences because of the suspension, remove all references from his record that he used racially motivated, inappropriate, or insensitive language in class and monetary damages determined during trial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Davidson County Schools nears possible settlement in lawsuit after student suspended for alleged ‘racially motivated comment'
DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) – Davidson County Schools may soon settle a lawsuit with a family after a 'On Friday, we filed a motion asking the court to approve a settlement that would resolve this matter,' said Dean McGee, senior counsel for Educational Freedom at the Liberty Justice Center. 'Because Christian is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final. We'll have more to say after that hearing, but we're pleased to take this important step toward clearing our client's name.' The incident happened on April 9, 2024, at Central Davidson High School. 'On April 9, my son received a write-up stating that he violated a board of education policy by using or making a racially motivated comment, saying that an alien needs a green card,' the boy's mother, Leah McGhee, said. The lawsuit claims the teen left class to go to the bathroom. He missed some of the lesson, and when he came back, the word 'aliens' was used during class discussion. The student reportedly asked if 'aliens' referred to 'space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards' and the teacher said to 'watch your mouth.' According to the suit, a Hispanic male classmate then threatened to beat the student up. That same day, the 16-year-old was suspended for three days. 'I cannot appeal this suspension since it is less than 10 days. Racism is only a three-day suspension with no appeal when it should be a top-tier punishment,' Leah McGhee said. The 16-year-old is no longer enrolled at the school because, according to the lawsuit, he received threats and was harassed about this situation. The student's parents, Leah and Chad McGhee, filed a lawsuit on behalf of their 16-year-old son and called on the school to reverse the suspension and remove it from the student's record. The lawsuit argues that the words 'alien,' 'illegal alien' and 'green cards' are common terms used in both state and federal law. It goes on to say the punishment was too harsh and his comment should have been protected under his First Amendment rights of free speech. 'There is nothing inappropriate about saying aliens need green cards, and there certainly isn't a case for racism due to the fact that alien is not a race,' Leah told the school board in May 2024. The McGhee family asked the courts to require a public apology from the school board, reverse the suspension, remove it from the student's record, remove unexcused absences because of the suspension, remove all references from his record that he used racially motivated, inappropriate, or insensitive language in class and monetary damages determined during trial. A spokesperson for the school district previously said they are unable to comment due to pending litigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
