Following Court Decision, Christian School Partially Settles Girls’ Sports Lawsuit For $566K
Mid Vermont Christian School has reached a partial settlement in its legal battle against state athletic officials — securing over half a million dollars in damages after being barred from competition over its stance on transgender athletes by the Vermont Principals Association.
The Vermont Principals Association has agreed to pay the school $566,000 to cover damages and legal fees. This agreement follows a 2023 decision by the association to ban MVCS from all state-sponsored athletic programs.
The ban was originally triggered when the school’s girls’ basketball team forfeited a game rather than compete against a team with a player who was biologically male. After it was banned, the school sued the association and state education officials. While the VPA has settled this portion of the dispute, representatives for the school note that other legal claims remain active.
A federal appeals court decision last September paved the way for Mid Vermont Christian School to return to state-sanctioned athletics and extracurricular activities. The court found that the association acted with “hostility” and bypassed its own disciplinary protocols when it expelled the school in 2023.
The ruling highlighted public comments made by VPA Executive Director Jay Nichols, who had characterized the school’s religious stance as “blatant discrimination.” The court determined these remarks contributed to a record of animus against the school’s faith-based motives.
“The VPA’s executive director publicly castigated Mid Vermont — and religious schools generally — while the VPA rushed to judgment,” Judge Park wrote.
The Alliance for Defending Freedom represents the school.
ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman, vice president of U.S. litigation, said, “The government cannot punish religious schools—and the families they serve — by permanently kicking them out of state-sponsored sports simply because the state disagrees with their religious beliefs. … There’s a price to pay for violating constitutional rights for Christian schools and students.”
The injunction allows MVCS to resume VPA participation immediately. The broader legal battle continues. The case now returns to a lower court to address remaining issues, including whether the school was or should be excluded from state tuition and dual-enrollment programs.
This story was originally published by MinistryWatch.
Stacey Horton is a contributor to MinistryWatch.