The Ottumwa Community School District has agreed to pay $55,000 to a student who alleged racial discrimination and harassment within the district, according to a recent settlement agreement that closes a civil rights lawsuit against the district.
The settlement, finalized in March, comes after years of complaints that the district failed to protect students of color from repeated racial harassment by their peers. The lawsuit was filed after a student at Evans Middle School experienced ongoing racial slurs, bullying, and a hostile learning environment during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.
According to case documents, the student reported multiple incidents to school officials, including being called racial slurs and facing racist jokes and comments from classmates. The lawsuit claimed the district did not take adequate action to stop the harassment or prevent it from continuing.
The $55,000 settlement is intended to compensate the student and their family for emotional distress and costs related to counseling and support services following the incidents.
The settlement comes after a separate investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found the Ottumwa Community School District in violation of federal civil rights laws. The OCR concluded in late 2022 that the district failed to appropriately respond to racial harassment, creating a hostile educational environment for the student.
As part of the federal resolution, the district agreed to take corrective measures, including staff training, improved procedures for handling harassment complaints, and support for impacted students.
In a statement, Ottumwa school officials said the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing but reflects their commitment to resolving the matter and moving forward.
“The District remains dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students,” the statement read.
This latest settlement follows ongoing scrutiny of the district’s handling of race-related incidents, including a separate lawsuit filed by Robert Bender, a teacher in the district, who claims the administration failed to protect him from racial harassment by students. That case is scheduled for trial in June 2025.
