Board of Education Statement on Legal Settlement

During a special meeting on Thursday, December 21, 2023, the Forest Hills School District Board of Education voted to rescind the Resolution to Create a Culture of Kindness and Equal Opportunity for All Students and Staff and settle the related lawsuit. The Board issued the following public statement related to this matter.

Board of Education Statement

The Forest Hills School District Board of Education has reached a settlement with the Plaintiff’s Jennifer and Antonio Ciolino; Natalie and Jeffrey Hastings; Sarah and James Updike; Janielle Davis; and minors in the lawsuit opposing the Board’s “Resolution to Create a Culture of Kindness and Equal Opportunity for All Students and Staff.” This settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing and the Board denies that the Resolution violates anyone’s legal rights. Rather, the Board chose to resolve the matter to avoid the unnecessary distraction from the important business of educating children and to also cease the costs of litigation that would burden taxpayers. The District’s liability insurance will cover the settlement costs to the Plaintiff’s attorneys.

The intent and purpose of the Resolution were to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. The Board is confident that existing policies and administrative guidelines will be sufficient to ensure the District meets these obligations to the students, student’s parents and the community. The Forest Hills School District Board of Education is focused on supporting a high-quality educational experience that empowers each student to achieve personal success.