Jefferson City Public Schools will foot the majority of the damages brought upon it by an age and gender discrimination lawsuit won by former teacher Karen Ray.
On Tuesday, the 12-member jury sided with Ray with an 11-1 vote after deliberating for more than four hours.
The jury - made up mostly of older males - granted Ray $24,000 in damages for a hostile work environment and being forced to leave the district because of the "intolerable" conditions. They also awarded her $225,000 in punitive damages, meant to "punish" the district and deter this type of situation from happening again.
Superintendent Larry Linthacum said their insurance doesn't cover punitive damages and has a $10,000 deductible, so JCPS will pay $235,000 on top of some of the district attorney's fees from their fund balance. The fund balance is essentially reserve funds kept by all districts in Missouri.
The insurance company will cover $14,000 and Ray's attorney's fees. Linthacum said they're still working with their insurance company to determine how much of their own attorney's fees will covered.
"That's why you have a fund balance," he said. "You have to prepare for the worst, not that you prepare for anything like this."
He said the district is still working out the details as to how it will pay for it, whether in a lump sum or in installments.
Ray filed the lawsuit against the district in 2014, citing age and gender discrimination from the high school administration. She taught at the school for four years, teaching mainly journalism with a few English classes when she first started.
In spring of 2013, Ray resigned from the district after accepting a position at Nixa Public Schools in southwest Missouri where she currently teaches English. She makes approximately $12,000 less per year at Nixa.
JCPS has another lawsuit pending against them from former teacher Laura Cooper who taught English at the high school.
In her petition to the court, Cooper cites she worked for the district for 18 years before her resignation in May 2014.
She alleges she was "obligated to work in an environment that was hostile to female employees," according to previous News Tribune coverage.
As of now, her trial is set for Sept. 12, but that could change.
Linthacum said Tuesday he's unsure how the district will move forward with her lawsuit, and they will take a couple days to "take a deep breath" and evaluate the situation.
Previous coverage:
Jury sides with former teacher in JCPS discrimination suit, May 17, 2016
Administrators deny bullying, May 17, 2016
Principal Dodson denies allegations of bullying, May 13, 2016
Ray takes the stand against JCPS, May 13, 2016
JCHS teachers felt 'bullied' by administration, May 12, 2016
JCHS administration called 'aggressive,' May 11, 2016
JCPS discrimination trial gets underway, May 10, 2016
Former teacher sues Jefferson City School District, July 27, 2014