Minnesota district settles suits that said its bullying prevention was inadequate

From The St. Paul Pioneer Press: The Anoka-Hennepin (Minn.) School Board has agreed to settle lawsuits alleging that it wasn't taking enough action to stop bullying. Six former and current district students had sued over a policy requiring staff to remain neutral when the topic of sexual orientation came up in the classroom. The students who sued contended that the bullying was so pervasive that many of them transferred or dropped out and some of them attempted suicide. The settlement requires the district to hire staff to improve the climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and more closely monitor and report bullying. The district also must pay a lump sum of $270,000 to be divided among the student plaintiffs.