Ruling Issued In Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Guilford Public Schools

GUILFORD, CT — The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut earlier this month ruled in favor of Guilford Public Schools and the Guilford Board of Education, granting summary judgment in favor of all named defendants on all federal claims related to a lawsuit filed in September 2022 by former school board candidates, according to an announcement from the school district Friday.

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 7, 2022, in federal court in New Haven by the former candidates and on behalf of their children, claimed GPS discriminated against their families and school-age children "after the parents opposed the implementation of critical race theory."

The lawsuit claimed constitutional rights violations, and claimed that the child plaintiffs experienced bullying and other forms of mistreatment due to their parent’s political and religious beliefs, and that the school administration failed to appropriately intervene.

In the original 27-page complaint, the plaintiffs claimed they and their families suffered "retaliation, compelled speech, and religious discrimination" and "emotional distress."

The federal claims were dismissed with prejudice, according to the court's Feb. 7 ruling.

"The court rejected all claims that students were targeted for their religious or political beliefs or for the beliefs of their parents. The decision makes clear that claims accusing multiple teachers and administrators of mistreatment of students or failure to appropriately support students were unfounded. The decision asserts that no Board of Education policy, decision, or custom supported any such action," GPS said in an announcement.

"Guilford Public Schools respects the rights of all parents and students to their personal opinions on how the Guilford Public Schools should operate," the school district added. "For the safety and well-being of all our students, we will continue to take action to assure that the rights of all students attending the Guilford Public Schools are protected and that they remain free from discrimination or harassment."

The full ruling can be viewed here.

— Contains previous reporting from Patch editor Ellyn Santiago.