UPDATE: Federal Lawsuit Against St. Michael-Albertville School District Voluntarily Dismissed
The legal team representing St. Michael-Albertville's ALIV Club has filed documents to voluntarily drop the suit.
A change in club status handed down by the St. Michael-Albertville School District has apparently led to the end of a lawsuit filed in Federal Court.
According to court documents obtained by St. Michael Patch, the plaintiff -–the ALIV Club – has filed documents for a voluntary dismissal with prejuidice.
The paperwork files the voluntary dismissal stating the district" agreed to grant official recognition to the ALIV Club and grant the club equial access to all rights, benefits and privileges given to other non-curriculum student clubs."
The school district said it will recognize the ALIV group as an official club, which appears to be good enought for the group's counsel.
Attorneys initially said ALIV was seeking the same rights as the high school's reading and Anime clubs, which are allowed to meet during SNAP, or preparation periods.
However, that will NOT change, said Superintendent-Elect, Jim Behle.
"We will enforce our existing policy consistently. All non-curricular groups are welcomed to meet during non-instructional time before and after school," Behle said.
The document also states the district will be paying for the ALIV Club's legal costs, which have been adding up since the suit was filed April 7.
The suit was dismissed "with prejuidice," which means the club may not sue the district again on the same grounds.
Happy in St. Michael
8:42 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
We were so sad to read about this in April. Shame on the school district for trying to stop ALIV from having the same rights as other groups, but kudos to ALIV for standing up for their rights! Maybe we're not as different from other districts as we had hoped. We're happy they realized how ridiculous this was, but our insane school property taxes have to pay for their idiocy!
Btw, prep period was always a time that clubs could meet when I was in high school. How is the Anime club curricular? Maybe it is, just doesn't sound that way.
Mother
1:37 am on Saturday, June 4, 2011
Our family friends think very highly of St.Michael school district as do many of the families in this community. I don't think there was any acts of idiocy on the schools part. They acted in a manner that was part of the order of their policies. I thank them for making the effort to compromise with the ALIV club so that this would not have to go to court ( as this would have created many problems for both the school and the ALIV club) and saving tax payers the added court and lawyers fee's.
Does anyone know what the new policies are that were stated in the article concerning clubs meeting during school hours? I have heard conflicting remarks on the matter and would like to be clear on it.
Thank-you in advance for a civil answer on this matter.