A lawsuit filed by former Lexington Richland District Five Superintendent Stephen Hefner(2011-2018) was resolved last week and will benefit the district’s students and teachers through the D5 Foundation.
The settlement monies will be split between the district’s snack-pack program, that provides low-income students in the district with take home food items, and research grants for children at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies. Both programs are heavily funded by the District Five Foundation.
“We are extremely humbled by this contribution,” said District Five Foundation Chairman Dr. Matt Boyeson. “The foundation strives to support initiatives for the children and this will go a long way to that cause.”
The settlement comes from a counter lawsuit filed by the former superintendent stating that his First Amendment rights were violated. Hefner had written a letter to the school board in 2021 challenging the district’s decision to hire a consulting firm to provide superintendent services instead of an actual person.
The letter was joined by other former board and superintendents from the district.
The school board had enlisted Akil Ross’s education consulting firm, HeartEd, LLC., to serve as superintendent for the district in July of 2021 instead of hiring Ross directly. The lawsuit stated that the unusual hiring circumstances could affect the district’s accreditation. It also questioned financial arrangements between Ross’s firm and school board members.
The school district fired back with a lawsuit against Hefner calling his lawsuit inaccurate and politically-motivated and stating that public perception could affect attendance and goodwill in the district.
Hefner’s lawsuit claimed First Amendment violations and that the district’s lawsuit was frivolous. He claimed his lawsuit did no harm to the district and that they were trying to force and apology from him. He claimed the lawsuit against him could prevent reasonable people from questioning the district for fear of retaliation and engaging in a constitutionally protected activity.
Both parties agreed to the settlement along with a dismissal of Hefner’s federal lawsuit against the district.
