School board settles Facebook suit

CINCINNATI, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- An Ohio school district has agreed to settle a suit brought by the families of three students who faced expulsion for calling a teacher a pedophile on Facebook.

A Three Rivers district board member not directly involved in the negotiations told The Cincinnati Enquirer he believed the settlement allows the three teens to return to Taylor High School. They have already served 10-day suspensions, which will remain on their records.

The three were suspended after school officials learned they had created a Facebook profile for a teacher that listed his position as "pedophile." They used a photo from the school Web site.

In their lawsuit, the parents contended that the students should not be disciplined for exercising free speech rights outside of school.

The three incumbents who remain on the board all said they will vote for the settlement, giving it a majority.

"What's important to me is that we send a message that kids can't go off and attack teachers online, or any other way," said Al Bays, the board president.