This past August, LATE NIGHT LAW settled First Amendment claims against a New Mexico public charter school. Our client, Craig Springer, was the parent of a high school student at Estancia Valley Classical Academy in Edgewood, New Mexico.
Estancia Valley Classical Academy was founded in 2011 as an affiliate of Hillsdale College, a liberal arts college in Michigan that provides resources for traditional pedagogy to K-12 private and charter schools. Over the summer of 2023, the governing council of Estancia Valley Classical Academy downgraded the school’s ties with Hillsdale College, without parental or community input.
When parents and teachers caught wind of this, many were upset about the change. Mr. Springer led the charge at meetings of the school’s governing council, where he was outspoken against the change, and the governing council’s lack of transparency.
At a public meeting of held in October 2023, Mr. Springer was shouted down by members of the governing council when he attempted to deliver public comments. LATE NIGHT LAW then brought suit, alleging a type of violation of the First Amendment’s free speech guarantee, called viewpoint discrimination in a designated public forum.
Mr. Springer continued to speak out during the pendency of the case, including an op-ed in the Albuquerque Journal. Estancia Valley Classical Academy agreed to settle with Mr. Springer this past August, 2024.
If you believe your First Amendment rights have been violated, contact LATE NIGHT LAW for a free consultation at (505) 225-2623.
This article is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and Late Night Law. Please consult an attorney for individualized advice if you have a legal matter.