Olentangy board approves agreement resolving federal lawsuit over pronoun policy enforcement

The Olentangy Local School District board voted on May 7 to approve an agreement resolving litigation filed by Parents Defending Education (now operating as Just Defending Education).

Superintendent Todd Meyer summarized the litigation history: the organization sued the district in May 2023 challenging how the student code of conduct would be applied to student speech, notably disputes over preferred pronouns. The trial court initially upheld the district’s policies and a three-judge Sixth Circuit panel affirmed. The organization then sought en banc review; the full Sixth Circuit in November 2025 issued an order granting a preliminary injunction tailored to prohibit enforcement where a student uses pronouns consistent with another student’s biological sex but inconsistent with that student’s gender identity. The court did not find the district’s policies unconstitutional in general and affirmed the district’s ability to enforce anti-harassment and anti-bullying protections.

At the trial-court level the school districts and the plaintiff proposed a preliminary injunction consistent with the Sixth Circuit’s directive; the board approved an agreement that continues that framework and resolves the lawsuit without any financial payment by the district. The superintendent noted the agreement is designed to be modified should future law change.

Board members voted to approve the agreement and authorized the board president to sign on behalf of the district. The board emphasized its intent to continue enforcing anti-harassment policies while respecting the court’s specific injunction language.