A Jordan-Elbridge mother and son who publicly criticized the school district for its handling of racist harassment have now filed a federal lawsuit against the district.
In a story reported by The Auburn Citizen, Melissa Ellingworth and her son, Trevor, filed suit against the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District and its board of education in July in Onondaga County Supreme Court. The case was moved to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York in September.
The lawsuit alleges the district knew about but failed to act on repeated incidents of harassment Trevor endured as a junior high student in 2023 and 2024. Those experiences, it says, caused him anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, ultimately forcing him to transfer to a private school costing $18,000 a year.
In March 2023, two students received in-school suspensions for using a racial slur, but the family’s attorneys argue the district failed to take meaningful steps to protect Trevor.
The lawsuit seeks damages for educational and emotional costs, as well as changes to district anti-discrimination policies and attorney fees.
District Superintendent James Froio declined to comment to The Citizen. The district has filed a motion to dismiss.
Attorney Sean Gleason, senior counsel with Tully Rinckey PLLC, which represents the Ellingworths, told The Citizen that the district failed to meet its legal obligations under the Dignity for All Students Act.
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