The Gazette: A federal court case alleging free speech violations against School District 49 will go to trial after a motion for summary judgment was denied.

The motion involving the 2023 lawsuit, filed by current D-49 board member Deb Schmidt and Ohio resident Kelly Kohls, requested that Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell reach a verdict without going to trial. Dominguez Braswell denied the motion on March 12 because certain parameters to limit speech and expression during a board of education meeting are allowed.

During a board meeting Feb. 22, 2023, Schmidt and Kohls each held up signs calling for board members Rick Van Wieren, Lori Thompson and John Graham to resign. Both were told by Graham that they violated decorum and would be asked to leave if they didn’t put down their signs.

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