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Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Ind. Decisions - Settlement in high school journalism adviser case

The Indianapolis Star reports today that:

Franklin Central High School's former newspaper adviser said Tuesday he will finish a journalism education program now that he stands to collect nearly $74,000 from a lawsuit settlement. Chad Tuley, 26, hopes to return to the classroom next fall and eventually to oversee another student newspaper -- but not in Franklin Township Schools. * * *

The agreement, which the School Board approved Monday night, ends Tuley's federal lawsuit. It claimed his First Amendment rights were violated in November 2004 when he was removed as adviser over a story in the student newspaper about a student arrested on a murder charge. * * *

Superintendent E.B. Carver has said Tuley lacked a proper journalism teaching license and that his removal from the adviser position was because of his conduct -- not the story. "This was never about a First Amendment right," Carver said this week. "It was a personnel issue." Referring to Tuley, Carver said: "Any time you settle for money, you're never too strong about your First Amendment rights."

Tuley and his attorney, Ed DeLaney, declined to respond specifically to that comment, citing a clause in the agreement barring any statements about the matter.

The settlement agreement also prohibits either side from releasing it publicly unless required by law. The Indianapolis Star obtained a copy Tuesday after sending a public records request to the school district.

Interesting. A sidebar to the story sets out the details of the settlement.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 12, 2005 07:09 AM
Posted to Ind Fed D.Ct. Decisions