Ankeny School District Pays $150K to Teachers Disciplined Over Student Drag Show

Three Iowa teachers who were suspended for helping students organize a drag show at an Ankeny high school have reached a settlement with the school district, just days before their case was set to go to trial. The district agreed to pay roughly $150,000 to resolve discrimination lawsuits filed by the teachers, who argued their First Amendment rights were violated.

What Happened at the Ankeny High School Drag Show?

In May 2022, teachers Jill Bjorklund, Mollie Jo Blahunka, and PJ Hurley approved or attended a student-run drag performance held after school hours at Ankeny High School. The event was organized by the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs from Ankeny High School and Southview Middle School. Youth drag performers from the Central Iowa Youth Pride Pageant took part in what was described as the clubs' final meeting of the year.

According to the teachers' complaint, attendance was voluntary and no one was harmed or offended. But after clips of the performance went viral online, the district launched an investigation.

Why Were the Teachers Disciplined?

Ankeny Community Schools said the event was not approved by school administration and did not follow proper protocols. The teachers disputed this. Blahunka said she spoke with the high school activities director about the event and reserved the auditorium for it.

All three teachers were placed on leave. Bjorklund and Blahunka were suspended for several days during the next school year. All three were banned from sponsoring school activities and threatened with termination for any future violations, according to the Des Moines Register. The district also filed ethics charges with the Iowa Board of Education, which were later dismissed.

What Did the Teachers' Lawsuit Claim?

The teachers sued the district for discrimination and retaliation, saying their support for LGBTQ students was protected speech under the First Amendment. The lawsuit noted that Blahunka identifies as a queer woman, Hurley as a gay man, and Bjorklund as the mother of a transgender child.

After a yearslong legal battle in state and federal court, the two sides reached a settlement just before the trial was scheduled to begin on July 20.

How Much Did the Settlement Cost Taxpayers?

Under the agreement, the district will pay each teacher about $27,700 plus $67,000 for attorneys' fees. The total comes to roughly $150,000. A district spokesperson said the matter had been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.

Neither the school district nor an attorney for the plaintiffs immediately responded to requests for comment.

What Does This Mean for Iowa Schools?

The case unfolded against the backdrop of broader debates over parental rights and classroom content. In May 2023, Governor Kim Reynolds signed SF 496, a law that restricts instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for kindergarten through sixth grade students. It also requires schools to notify parents if a student requests to use a different name or pronoun, and bans books with descriptions of sex acts from K-12 libraries.

Critics have labeled the law the Don't Say Gay bill, but supporters say it protects parental rights and keeps inappropriate content out of classrooms.

FAQ

Why did the Ankeny school district settle the lawsuit?

The district settled to avoid a trial that was scheduled to begin July 20. The settlement amount was about $150,000, including attorneys' fees.

What were the teachers accused of doing?

The teachers were disciplined for approving or attending a student-led drag show held after school hours on campus. The district said the event was not properly approved.

Does Iowa law restrict drag shows in schools?

Iowa law SF 496 restricts instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for K-6 students and requires parental notification for name or pronoun changes, but it does not specifically ban drag shows in schools.