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Former school counselor receives $195,000 settlement in gender identity policy lawsuit
The district said it settled to avoid further litigation and to remain focused on students, while denying any wrongdoing.
- On Wednesday, the South Madison Community School Corporation agreed to pay $195,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by former counselor Kathy McCord, with the agreement finalized April 14 after three years of litigation.
- The district fired McCord in January 2023 after she spoke to the Daily Signal about a 'Gender Support Plan' requiring staff to use student-requested names and pronouns without parental notification or consent.
- McCord stated, "No public-school employee should be fired for expressing her personal beliefs," while South Madison claimed it settled to avoid litigation costs, asserting the court made no findings of liability against the district.
- Indiana law now requires schools to notify parents of name or pronoun change requests, prompting South Madison to rescind its directive—a shift McCord said was essential for parental involvement in child welfare decisions.
- Similar disputes nationwide, including $650,000 in Brownsburg and $360,000 in California settlements, reveal significant financial risks for districts maintaining policies excluding parents from student identity discussions.
18 Articles
18 Articles
School counselor awarded nearly $200K over firing for opposing trans policy
An Indiana school district has agreed to pay nearly $200,000 to settle a complaint from a counselor who was fired for publicly opposing a gender identity student policy. #KathyMcCord #DailySignal #students #gender #transgender #education #FirstAmendment
Indiana School Counselor Wins Free Speech Victory Over District's 'Gender' Policy
An Indiana school district agreed to pay $195,000 to settle with a school counselor who was fired for speaking to a journalist about the district policy of hiding students “gender identity” from parents. The case involved Kathy McCord, a 37-year education veteran who objected to the school’s mandate “which required her to speak in ways that violate her sincerely held religious beliefs,” reported Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The Christian le…
Madison County schools pay nearly $200,000 to fired counselor who spoke out about student gender identity policy
(WXIN/WTTV) — A central Indiana school district has reportedly agreed to pay a former counselor nearly $200,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed after she was fired and accused of lying about student gender identity policies. Kathy McCord, a former counselor at Pendleton Heights High School in Madison County, had her teaching contract terminated in March [...]
The Western Journal
The Gateway PunditSchool Agrees to Pay Up After Counselor Was Fired for Objecting to Transgender Policy
A school in Indiana has settled a lawsuit for nearly $200,000 after a counselor was fired for her outspoken stance regarding the school’s transgender policies, specifically the lack of parental […] The post School Agrees to Pay Up After Counselor Was Fired for Objecting to Transgender Policy appeared first on The Western Journal.
wibc.com
106.7 WTLCIndiana School District Reaches Settlement with Former School Counselor Who Spoke about Gender Identity Policy
Source: Alliance Defending Freedom MADISON COUNTY, Ind.–A Madison County school district has been ordered to pay $195,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former counselor who was fired after going against the school’s gender identity policy. Kathy McCord, a 37-year educator, filed the lawsuit back in May 2023 shortly after she was fired from the South Madison Community School Corporation in Pendleton. She was fired in March 2023. In 2021, the Cor…
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