Vernon To Pay $100,000 To Settle Suits Over Controversial Class Video

VERNON, CT — Town and school officials in Vernon have agreed to settle lawsuits for $100,000 amid claims that a hip-hop-themed video shown during an eighth-grade social studies class caused the son of a police officer emotional distress.

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said he will bring the settlement agreement to the Board of Education Monday after the amount was approved by the Town Council Tuesday night. The council discussed the matter in executive session and then voted unanimously to settles the suits.

He said one suit is related to special education and is therefore sealed. The other, Rodman v. Town of Vernon, is public record.

"The settlement alleviates all legal claims against the town and school system" Macary said.

The case dates back to 2020, when the Vernon Center Middle School teacher received a written reprimand after a complaint was filed by the student's parent. Two years later, the lawsuit was filed.

Macary said the eighth-graders were shown a documentary entitled, "Hip Hop: Songs that Shook America." Featured in the film is the Kendrick Lamar song "Alright."

The lawsuit claims the teacher was aware that one child in the class was the the son of a police officer and also had a learning disorder. The lawsuit claims the video presented police officers in a violent light, along with statement putting officers in a less-than-favorable light.

The lawsuit also claims the student's family was forced to pay tuition costs to move the child to another school after the incident.