Montana School District Will Pay $350K in Harassment Suit

A western Montana school district has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed school officials did not adequately protect a student from being harassed and groped by a music teacher.

KTMF-TV reported the notice of settlement was filed in Missoula County last week, ending the complaint filed in December 2017 against the Frenchtown School District.

Superintendent Randy Cline says the district does not admit to any liability and the reason to settle before trial “made economic sense.”

The lawsuit claimed the district knew about complaints against former high school teacher Troy Bashor, and the school did not do its part to stop harassment directed at the girl after she reported the allegations.

Bashor was convicted earlier this year of misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of children.