School HR teams face new risks after Iowa court's bold move – find out what's changed
Iowa’s top court says school districts can’t use qualified immunity to dismiss discrimination and harassment claims – clarifying the rules for HR working in education.
On November 14, 2025, the Iowa Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the Southeast Polk Community School District and several of its employees, ruling that the state’s qualified immunity law does not apply to discrimination claims brought under the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA) or to common law tort claims. The decision provides important guidance for HR professionals in public schools and other municipal settings about the limits of legal defenses in civil rights cases.
The case began when Benjamin and Amanda Fogle, on behalf of their minor son, P.F., filed a lawsuit alleging that P.F. was bullied, harassed, and assaulted by another student at Clay Elementary School during the 2022–2023 school year because of his sexual orientation. According to the complaint, school officials – including the superintendent, principal, and a fifth-grade teacher – were aware of the incidents but did not protect P.F. or promptly notify his parents. The Fogles allege that staff either blamed P.F. or dismissed the other student’s conduct. After a fourth physical assault, the Fogles removed P.F. from the school and reported the incidents to local authorities.
Following the required process, the Fogles filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights...
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