Winnsboro ISD Agrees to $25,000 Settlement in Bullying Lawsuit

Winnsboro ISD in East Texas has agreed to a $25,000 settlement in a federal lawsuit alleging the district ignored reports of bullying, sexual harassment and physical abuse involving a disabled student. The lawsuit also claimed the district retaliated against the student's family after they repeatedly reported the alleged misconduct.

What the Lawsuit Alleged

According to KETK, the lawsuit alleges Winnsboro ISD and its board members ignored complaints of sexual harassment and physical abuse, also detailing alleged instances where the district retaliated against the plaintiff's family.

Board members listed in the lawsuit include Duncan McAdoo, Brandon Green, Stacy Brown, Jay Murdock, Kristie Amason, Billy Saucier and Brian Busby. They are accused of violating Title IX and ADA laws in addition to FERPA violations.

In total there were thirteen complaints made about six instances of bullying or harassment which occurred from August 2021 to March 2023.

READ MORE: Biggest Lawsuit Payouts in Texas History

Allegations of Retaliation Against the Family

One of the parents of the child being bullied (who also worked at the district) reported the incidents to the school, but the lawsuit claims that the district retaliated against the student and parent after the complaint was made. The lawsuit alleges the retaliation included banning both parents from campus and filing complaints with their employers.

The student's father, a law enforcement officer, made public comments at a school board meeting in April 2022 regarding the alleged bullying and the lawsuit and alleges that Winnsboro ISD retaliated against his wife by reporting her to the Texas Education Agency in a complaint that was found to be "unsubstantiated."

The student's mother was an employee with Winnsboro ISD for 9 years before she was allegedly wrongfully suspended banned from campus and the district refused to renew her employment contract.

The lawsuit also accuses the district of complaining about the father to his employer, using a confidential email from December 2021 as evidence. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Inspector General found the complaint to be "unfounded."

According to the lawsuit the parents were banned from campus, the student's mother was placed on administrative leave, and the father was served with a criminal trespass. The student was then transferred to a different school district.

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How the Lawsuit Was Resolved

In September 2024, the claims against the board members were dismissed.

On July 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle ordered that $25,000 in settlement funds to be paid to the student when he turns 18. Court records do not indicate that the settlement included an admission of liability by Winnsboro ISD.