School District involved in $50K bullying settlement

The Clear Lake School District has paid a $50,000 settlement to the parent of a Clear Lake High School graduate based upon claims filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission alleging discrimination.
 School Board minutes and General Fund bills published in the July 9th Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter listed a $50,000 payment made to Tim Davidson on behalf of his son, Spencer, a 2014 CLHS graduate.  

 An agreement reached between the parties, and made available to the Mirror-Reporter Tuesday, identifies bullying/harassment as reason for the complaint. 
 As a term of the settlement, CLHS Head Football Coach Fred Wieck will issue a letter of apology to Spencer Davidison and the School District will amend its anti-bullying/anti-harassment student policy to include provisions to broaden the ways students may report bullying and harassment complaints.  
 Wieck retired from his coaching and teaching positions at CLHS at the conclusion of the 2012 school year.  However, he continued as head football coach, a position he has held since 1988. He has a record of 269-90, ranking in the state’s top 20.  Under his direction the Lions have qualified for the State playoffs 16 straight years.  They were Class 3A State Champions in 2000.  Prior to coming to Clear Lake, Wieck taught and coached at Plainfield and Green Mountain Garwin.
 According to the settlement, students who witness bullying and harassment will be strongly encouraged to report the behavior to a designated investigator and when a District employee becomes aware of a complaint, they shall report it to a designated investigator.  The amendments also state retaliation against any individual who makes or participates in a complaint or investigation of bullying or harassment is strictly prohibited.
 The settlement also states the School District will retain an individual with experience in conducting harassment training and investigator to provide training, awareness and prevention of bullying and harassment.  The District will also allocate some staff development meeting to train all staff in bullying/harassment awareness, prevention and District policies and procedures.
 The Clear Lake School District has denied, and continues to deny, any and all liability based upon Davidson’s allegations of wrongdoing, the settlement states.
 According to School Board Secretary Lorna Leerar, funds used for the settlement came from the District’s Management Fund.
 Tim Davidson could not be reached for comment.