TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — The Texarkana, Ark., School District says a federal jury was wrong to award $500,000 to a teacher fired after giving answers to three special-needs students taking an end-of-semester exam.
Andrea Johnson claimed racial discrimination, but the board says it fired her for helping the students cheat, not because she is black.
A school board member testified in September that he leaned in favor of Johnson until her lawyer "played the race card." The district says the board member isn't a school employee, and that it cannot be responsible for his actions.
The Texarkana Gazette reports the district wants the judge to reduce the amount of the award and say Johnson is not entitled to be reinstated.
Johnson said she was not the only teacher to give students test answers.
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