GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- South-Western City Schools agreed to pay a former coach $15,000 in a mutual release agreement after the former employee sued the district for discrimination.
At its Dec. 9 Board of Education meeting, the South-Western City School District approved a settlement in an employee discrimination lawsuit filed in federal court in October. The payment absolves the district of any future complications with the former assistant football coach, who alleged he was fired because of his age and disabilities.
According to court documents, the coach was fired in his fifth year of employment, two years after back surgery in the summer of 2020. After he returned to his coaching position, he had physical limitations but said he was still able to perform in his role, according to court documents.
In November 2022, the coach was fired during an annual review. Court documents allege his supervisor told him they wanted to replace him with a younger coach and said his disabilities made him unable to physically do the job, something the then-50-year-old said was not true.
Court documents include a copy of the coach's exit interview. In the document, his former supervisor wrote, "I believe that [the coach] needs to be much more mobile if he is trying to coach because of the perception kids are getting. Because it is tough for him to move about quickly, most of his coaching comes in the form of yelling."
In April 2023, the coach filed discrimination charges against his former supervisor and the district with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, both of whom issued the coach a right-to-sue letter. The first right-to-sue letter came the day he filed his complaint, and the second was issued in July. The coach filed a lawsuit against the district and former supervisor on Oct. 4.
According to the mutual release agreement, the district, the coach and his former supervisor are all released of any related claims after agreeing to the settlement. The coach will get two checks for $4,297.50 each, one for lost wages and back pay and the other for emotional distress. The remaining $6,405 will pay his legal fees. A district spokesperson said the settlement payment will come from the general fund, with the district working with its insurer for possible reimbursement.
A district spokesperson referred to the settlement resolution in lieu of a comment, which states the district does not admit any wrongdoing but thought the settlement was the more cost-effective route. According to the resolution, the district has also "improved its internal procedures moving forward."
