Mother of a Kilgore Student Is Suing the District

KILGORE � The Kilgore School District and three of its staff members have been named in a federal lawsuit filed in Tyler. The suit was filed by a parent of a Kilgore student who claims the staff members violated her daughter�s privacy when they disclosed her sexual orientation.

Named in the suit were softball coaches Rhonda Fletcher and Cassandra Newell. The mother, Barbara Wyatt says in the suit, the two coaches confronted her daughter in a locker room in March of last year and questioned her about her sexuality. According to the lawsuit, �Fletcher, Newell and KISD have absolutely no legitimate state interest in the disclosure of students� sexual orientation to parents. Doing so is a severe and traumatic violation of students� privacy, and lacks any legitimate academic, disciplinary, or administrative purpose.�

Also named in the suit is Assistant Athletic Director Douglas Duke. The suit contends he did not properly train and supervise Fletcher and Newell.

The suit is seeking monetary compensation and that the district and its staff to be prohibited from disclosing students� sexual orientation without their consent.