An Alpharetta student has filed a federal lawsuit against Fulton County school alleging the district violated his First Amendment right to disagree with the process of selecting prom kings and queens.
The student, Reuben Lack,18, was student body president at Alpharetta High School until last month. He wanted the selection of prom kings and queens to be more inclusive of gay students. He was removed from his post by faculty advisers shortly after his proposal.
He filed the lawsuit this week in U.S. District Court asking a judge to issue an injunction reinstating him as student body president.
Lack believes he lost his leadership position because he of his stance on the prom king/queen issue.
But a lawyer for the school district said his removal had nothing to do with his prom views. His proposal was tabled by his peers on the student council.
“The student was essentially a poor leader,” Suzann Wilcox Jiles, attorney for the district said in a statement. “ He behaved in manner not becoming of student body president including but not limited to rescheduling meetings with little notice, directly going against the instructions of the faculty advisers.”
The lawsuit was filed against the principal, the two faculty advisers, and the school district.
Lack says he was told by school officials Feb. 8 that he was immediately removed from his position for “pushing personal projects” and advocating policy changes.
Fulton school said the principal and teachers at Alpharetta High were very careful to take great care and be fair to all students involved when making the leadership change.
“We have a great principal and staff in place and I am confident in the way that they’ve handled this situation,” said Fulton school superintendent Robert Avossa. "It is unfortunate that this matter is being tried in the court of public perception. The facts about this allegation will be revealed completely through the legal process."
About the Author
