Family seeks $20K, apology in Davidson County Schools suspension lawsuit

The Davidson County Board of Education may soon settle a lawsuit with the parents of a student who was suspended for making what officials called a “racially insensitive remark.” 

The incident happened in April of 2024.

According to the lawsuit filed by Leah and Chad McGhee, their 16-year-old son asked a question in class about whether a reference to the word “aliens” had to do with “space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards.”

The suit claims the student was suspended for three days on the grounds that he had made a racially insensitive remark and caused a class disturbance. But the McGhees argue that the question was nonthreatening, and had to do with a term their son had heard on the news. 

After more than a year of litigation, the parents have proposed a settlement agreement which requires an apology and a check for $20,000 from the Davidson County Board of Education. The board would also have to remove any references to racial bias from the student’s records. 

A hearing on the proposed settlement is scheduled for July 1.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.