The Rowan County Board of Education has settled a lawsuit filed by a former student alleging sexual abuse by a teacher and coach.
The $3 million settlement came after nearly three years in court. The suit named Rowan County Board of Education, former Superintendent John Maxey, former principal Jordan Mann, and Andrew Zaheri, the teacher who engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a girl at the school, as defendants.
The Lexington Herald Leader reports that this is believed to be the largest settlement in a case involving sexual abuse of a single victim in a school system in Kentucky's history.
Attorneys for the plaintiff, who remains listed as Jane Doe, claim that multiple reports were made to officials, who, they allege, turned a blind eye to the situation.
Zaheri is currently serving a prison sentence connected to this case. Court documents filed in November say he repeatedly raped and sexually abused the girl on school grounds during her senior year.
He was sentenced in 2024 to 22 years in prison for the production of child pornography.
He is being held in a federal prison in Michigan.
Here is the statement from Rowan County Schools Superintendent Michael Rowe:
“While Mr. Zacheri is responsible for these acts, we want to take all the steps we can to prevent this conduct from happening again in the future. While all staff receive annual harassment training and their duty to report abuse, neglect, and dependency, our attorneys will conduct training this fall of the duties all school employees have to abstain from this behavior, and the obligation to report any inappropriate behavior to the appropriate authorities. We wish Jane Doe every success in her future. Hopefully, this significant settlement will make her financial life less stressful.”
