The Central Bucks School District and one of its middle school teachers who sued the district and its then-superintendent in federal court last year, saying his civil rights were violated, have reached a settlement.
The school board is expected to vote on the agreement with Andrew Burgess, who alleged the district retaliated against him for his support of LGBTQ+ students, at its meeting tonight. No details about the settlement have yet been announced.
Burgess taught social studies at Lenape Middle School for 14 years when he was first suspended then moved to a different school and a different grade.
The actions reportedly followed Burgess’s advocating for a trans student who came to him, saying they were repeatedly being bullied after they and their family had reported the targeted harassment to school officials.
In March 2022, Burgess filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Two months later, Burgess was suspended and publicly escorted from the Doylestown Borough school.
He was later reassigned to Unami Middle School to teach seventh graders. His class size was larger than others and had a different curriculum, Burgess said.
The superintendent at the time, Abram Lucabaugh, denied the suspension was caused by Burgess filing the complaint.
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