The Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees has voted to challenge a federal jury’s verdict against the district in a Title IX retaliation case tied to alleged misconduct within the Glacier High School wrestling program. The 9-1 vote to file an appeal came during a July 17 special meeting, following a closed executive session in which trustees discussed litigation strategy.
Background on the Case
The lawsuit centers on former Glacier High wrestler Clifford Nance and his father Kirk Nance, who reported allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and hazing within the school’s wrestling program. A federal jury ruled unanimously in the Nances’ favor in June, finding that Kalispell Public Schools had retaliated against the family after they came forward with those allegations.
Title IX, the federal law best known for addressing sex discrimination in education, also prohibits institutions from retaliating against individuals who report potential violations. The jury’s unanimous verdict in this case reflected a finding that the district crossed that line in its response to the Nances’ complaints.
How the Vote Unfolded
The July 17 meeting was posted as a special session focused on litigation matters, though the agenda did not specify the legal case under discussion or signal that trustees might take a vote on pursuing an appeal. After emerging from executive session, the board voted 9-1 to move forward with challenging the jury’s decision. No dissenting trustee was identified in publicly available information, nor was the specific rationale for the appeal outlined in open session.
The decision to appeal means the case will move to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, extending what is already a significant legal proceeding for the Flathead Valley school district. Appeals of federal jury verdicts in civil rights cases typically raise questions of legal error — such as how the court instructed the jury or what evidence was admitted — rather than relitigating the facts themselves.
What It Means for the District
A successful appeal could result in a new trial or a reversal of the verdict, potentially shielding the district from whatever damages the jury awarded. However, pursuing an appeal also extends the district’s legal costs and keeps the allegations tied to the Glacier High wrestling program in public view.
Kalispell Public Schools is one of the larger districts in northwestern Montana, and the case has drawn attention both locally and statewide given the serious nature of the underlying allegations and the unanimous jury finding against the district. The outcome of any appeal could carry implications for how Montana school districts handle internal misconduct reports and the protections owed to students and families who raise them.
The Glacier High wrestling program allegations were serious enough that a federal jury found the district not merely failed to act adequately, but actively retaliated — a distinction that carries weight in Title IX enforcement. Advocacy groups and education law attorneys have noted that retaliation findings are among the more severe outcomes a district can face under federal civil rights law.
What Comes Next
With the board’s appeal vote now on record, the district’s legal team will file the formal appeal paperwork in federal court. The Ninth Circuit process can take a year or more before a panel of appellate judges issues a ruling. In the meantime, the Nances’ legal team is expected to defend the jury’s verdict.
The broader policy questions the case raises — around how school districts respond when students report abuse or harassment by peers or coaches — remain unresolved at the state level. Montana lawmakers have addressed school safety and student protection measures in recent legislative sessions, and cases like this one often inform interim study work ahead of future legislative cycles. Montanans interested in how federal civil rights law intersects with local school governance may see this case cited as the Ninth Circuit considers the district’s appeal in the months ahead.
