LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Two dad and mom and the Clark County College District have settled a lawsuit over an task the place a 15-year-old was required to learn an expletive-laced monologue that the college board deemed too obscene to learn publicly at a gathering.
In 2023, Candra and Terrell Evans filed the lawsuit towards the district, Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara, the instructor and others over allegations of “unlawful grooming and abuse of a minor” involving the “pornographic material.”
The Las Vegas Academy of the Arts scholar’s title was not included within the lawsuit. Nevertheless, Candra Evans publicly recognized herself because the mom of the scholar throughout a Could 2022 faculty board assembly when she introduced up her issues throughout public remark.
In accordance with paperwork the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained, the dad and mom and the district just lately settled the lawsuit for $25,000 and the understanding the district will practice the magnet faculty’s lecturers on its rules.
In March 2022, the theater instructor assigned her class an task the place every scholar would write a monologue after which carry out one other scholar’s writing, the lawsuit mentioned. The monologue assigned to {the teenager} “contained explicit, obscene and sexually violent material,” the lawsuit mentioned. “[The teacher] helped the other student edit their obscenely violent pornographic monologue knowing that it would then be provided to another student to read, memorize and perform in front of the class,” the lawsuit mentioned.
“I didn’t believe that the teacher would ever give a student something like this, so it was more shock,” Candra Evans mentioned about discovering the monologue on her kitchen desk. “Having to memorize that and to read that, I thought it was just so inappropriate.”
The ultimate model of the monologue described a lady telling her ex-boyfriend that she was a lesbian. The monologue, which the lawsuit alleges the instructor edited, learn as follows:
“I don’t love you. It’s not you, it’s just (looks down) your d***. I don’t like your d*** or any d*** in that case. I cheated Joe. We were long distance and I’m in college and me and this girl, my roommate, started having some drinks and you know, I thought it was a one-time thing but then we started going out for coffee, and started sleeping in the same bed. I never thought it would get this far but God, it was like fireworks, and made me realize that with you it was always like a pencil sharpener that keeps getting jammed. I’ve tried to look at it from all different perspectives, but the truth is, I’m a f***** lesbian. I’ll never love you or any man, or any f****** d***. I hope you find a nice straight girl because that’s not me, and I’m tired of pretending that it is.”
Candra Evans first met with faculty employees concerning the task, she mentioned. A college affiliate later agreed to research it, the lawsuit mentioned. Candra Evans additionally requested that “no one at [the school] speak with [her daughter] about the matter unless she was present and [the school associate] said he would honor the request.”
“I wanted to hear somebody tell me, ‘Oh my gosh, this was so inappropriate. We’re going to fix this. This shouldn’t have happened,’” Candra Evans mentioned. “But I didn’t hear that.”
Just a few days later, the dad and mom inquired with somebody on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division. That particular person mentioned a report would have to be filed with Clark County College District Police. The dad and mom allege a report was taken, however later falsified, the lawsuit mentioned. Of their responses, CCSD legal professionals argued no crime was dedicated.
In Could 2022, Candra Evans attended a CCSD board assembly the place she tried to learn the monologue. She bought by about six seconds earlier than a trustee requested her to cease.
“Forgive me — we’re not using profanity,” then-Board President Evelyn Garcia Morales mentioned. “This is a public meeting I ask for decorum.”
“If you don’t want me to read it to you, what was it like for my 15-year-old daughter to have to memorize pornographic material?” Candra Evans replied.
Then-CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jara then interjected, saying his administration was already addressing the task. The district bleeped out a number of phrases in Candra Evans’ assertion and blurred her mouth within the publicly accessible video.
“If they can’t handle hearing that but they expect my daughter to read it, there’s a problem there, it’s hypocrisy,” she mentioned.
CCSD officers tweeted after that assembly that they have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the category task.
Candra Evans later realized her daughter had met alone with a faculty administrator concerning the task, the lawsuit mentioned. The lawsuit claims the scholar “was falsely imprisoned because “she was not able to leave” the assembly.
The lawsuit initially claimed the board violated Candra Evans’ First Modification rights. Nevertheless, CCSD later offered a doc, displaying all public commenters agree to stick to sure guidelines, together with no express language, when coming into the assembly.
Because the case headed towards trial, a federal choose dismissed all claims besides these involving the scholar’s task, her First Modification rights and her therapy afterward.
“I think kids are going to be a lot safer from teachers like this one who in my opinion just — I don’t know what happened and why she thought this would be OK,” Candra Evans mentioned. “I think she’s the only one who thought it was OK.”
Candra Evans mentioned she needed to clarify her daughter didn’t write the monologue. She added she didn’t have any concern with the topic however the phrases themselves.
“In the end, what’s most important is that my daughter can walk away from this proud because she made a change,” Candra Evans mentioned. “She made a difference.”
An unnamed CCSD trustee was alleged to have known as the general public feedback a “publicity stunt,” claiming a mother or father group coached Candra Evans by the general public remark. Candra Evans denied the declare within the lawsuit. The American Middle for Legislation and Justice assisted within the case.
CCSD doesn’t admit any legal responsibility within the settlement. The district didn’t return a request for remark concerning the settlement.
