School district will apologize to the student, pay her $61,500, and implement reforms to prevent future sexual harassment



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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
October 28, 2025

*Minnesota Department of Human Rights Secures Settlement with Osseo Area Schools after Assistant Principal Sexually Harassed a Nine-Year-Old Student*

School district will apologize to the student, pay her $61,500, and implement reforms to prevent future sexual harassment

*[St. Paul, MN] *The Minnesota Department of Human Rights today announced a settlement agreement with Osseo Area Schools after finding the school district violated Minnesota’s civil rights law by failing to stop an assistant principal from sexually harassing a nine-year-old student.

Under the settlement, the district agreed to send a written apology letter to the student, pay the former student $61,500, hold a listening session with the student and her parents, and make changes to stop and prevent future sexual harassment and discrimination.

“*As demonstrated here, when a Minnesota school knows or should have known about discrimination and harassment, and fails to take meaningful action to prevent it, it not only causes tremendous harm to the student and their family, but it also violates the Minnesota Human Rights Act,”* said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.* “Despite a rapidly shifting civil rights enforcement landscape at the federal level,* *this case demonstrates that Minnesota is not backing down from its civil rights laws.”*

*“What happened was wrong and unjust. School districts should continue to be held accountable when discrimination, harassment, or any misconduct occurs. We are grateful to have received some form of justice in this situation,” *said the student’s parents.

*When it comes to discrimination in schools, Minnesota’s law is clear*

Amid constant shifts at the federal level, Minnesota’s civil rights law is clear. When a school district knows or should know about discrimination or harassment, they must take action to address it.

Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota schools are prohibited from discriminating against students by denying them services, benefits, or full use of the school because of their race, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has powerfully recognized that "students should not be required to ‘shop’ among schools and districts to obtain a discrimination-free education,” because “[s]chools play a pivotal role in a young person’s development and intellectual, mental, and emotional health.” This means Minnesota schools must prevent and stop discrimination and harassment.

*Investigation into Osseo Area Schools*

The Department of Human Rights’ investigation found that during the 2021-22 school year, an assistant principal used his position of power – both as a school leader and an adult – to sexually harass a nine-year-old student. He told the fourth grader that he could not stop looking at her, went out of his way to interact with her, and inappropriately touched her.

The investigation found that Osseo Area Schools knew or should have known that the assistant principal was harassing the student. The district had credible reports of the sexual harassment from other students, teachers, and the student’s parents. Despite this, the district took no meaningful action to stop or prevent the assistant principal from sexually harassing the nine -year-old.

The school’s failure to stop the sexual harassment had a significant impact on the nine-year-old. Her parents ultimately withdrew her from the district.

*Settlement agreement*

Recognizing the harm caused by the district’s failure to take meaningful action, Osseo Area Schools agreed to write an apology letter to the student and hold a listening session with the student and her parents, terms rarely included in settlement agreements.

Osseo Area Schools will also pay the former student $61,500 for the impact the sexual harassment had on her.

The settlement agreement also requires Osseo Area Schools to take action to prevent and stop future discrimination and harassment. For example, the district must have and enforce anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and procedures and train staff, leadership, and teachers on those policies and procedures.

The Department of Human Rights will monitor Osseo Area Schools’ compliance with the settlement agreement for the next five years.

*How to report discrimination*

If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the Department of Human Rights by submitting this *online form* [ [link removed] ].

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights is the state’s civil rights enforcement agency and is responsible for enforcing the Minnesota Human Rights Act, one of the strongest state civil rights laws in the country.

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*Media inquiries: *Please email *[email protected]*.






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