Lawsuit claims LPS mishandled Scott Middle School trip assault

Source: journalstar.com

TL;DR

• A federal lawsuit claims Lincoln Public Schools violated Title IX in handling a sexual incident between two Scott Middle School students on a Washington, D.C. trip.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)
• The suit alleges the district knew of the boy's prior violent history and threats to rape female students and a pregnant teacher.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)
• It claims LPS denied the girl educational opportunities due to poor response, raising questions about student safety on school trips.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)

The story at a glance

A federal lawsuit filed against Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) alleges the district violated Title IX through its response to a sexual incident involving two students from Scott Middle School during a school trip to Washington, D.C. The plaintiff is the female student, represented by her parents, and reporter Margaret Reist covered the story for the Lincoln Journal Star. This comes amid broader scrutiny of school districts' handling of sexual misconduct under Title IX. The article appeared in September 2020.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)

Key points

• Incident occurred on a school trip to Washington, D.C., involving a boy and girl from Scott Middle School.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)
• Lawsuit claims LPS showed "deliberate indifference" by failing to protect the girl, despite knowing the boy's history of violence and rape threats toward girls and a pregnant teacher.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)
• Plaintiffs allege the district's response denied the girl access to educational opportunities, violating Title IX protections against sex-based discrimination.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)
• The suit seeks unspecified damages and court orders for LPS to improve Title IX compliance and training.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html)

Details and context

The article focuses on a federal complaint filed by the parents of a Scott Middle School girl, claiming LPS mishandled a sexual incident on the trip, allowing harassment to continue unchecked.[[1]](https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_2e3e1a03-7139-5490-97ea-ba401067fdbc.html) Title IX requires schools receiving federal funds to address sex discrimination, including sexual assault, promptly to ensure safe learning environments; failure can lead to lawsuits alleging "hostile environment."

• Scott Middle School is part of LPS, Lincoln's largest district serving about 40,000 students.
• The trip was chaperoned, but the suit faults supervision and aftermath response.
• No outcome details found in searches; article reports allegations only, not proven facts.

Similar cases, like a $650,000 settlement in another Nebraska district for Title IX failures, show risks for schools ignoring prior threats.[[2]](https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_d1d43f37-ae6b-507a-a4bb-0b12ae4d7cdf.html)

Key quotes

None reliably sourced from visible content or secondary reports.

Why it matters

Schools face growing legal pressure under Title IX to prevent and respond to sexual incidents, especially with known risks like prior threats. For parents and students in LPS, it highlights potential gaps in trip safety and support for victims, possibly affecting trust and enrollment. Watch for court rulings or settlements, though no updates found beyond 2020 filing.