Blind music teacher sues school district

A blind music teacher is suing three Butler County schools after he says he was blocked from teaching there because he is blind, according to a federal lawsuit.

Kyle Conley has worked at the Lakota, Fairfield and Ross school districts as a substitute teacher.

In September 2014, a Fairfield teacher complained "she did not want Mr. Conley to substitute teach for her classroom because of his disability," according to the lawsuit.

Fairfield officials felt Conley could not keep his students safe in the event of an emergency, the lawsuit says, and would require a full-time assistant. Conley argues in the lawsuit he does not need an assistant.

Roger Martin, the assistant superintendent for Fairfield, wrote a letter about this to the superintendent of the Warren County Educational Services Center and Southwest Ohio Council of Governments, according to the lawsuit.

"It is the District’s judgment that utilizing [Mr. Conley] as a substitute teacher without significant assistance creates safety issues for our students, particularly in emergency events, and would adversely affect the quality of the instruction and assessment which take place in the classes," Martin said in the letter, according to the lawsuit.

The next year, Conley says Lakota and Ross schools also blocked him from teaching there.

"Because of his blindness," the lawsuit says.

Scott Gates, Ross Superintendent, said the "allegations against Ross Local Schools are unfounded." He declined further comment.

Billy Smith, Fairfield Superintendent, said on Wednesday school officials were not aware of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation.

Conley has been blind since he was a child. That didn't stop him from playing the violin and piano. He graduated from Wright State University in 2014 with a degree in music education.

Before that, he went to Fairfield High School -- one of the districts now banning him.

His attorney, Robert Klinger, said in an email Conley was still accepted by other Butler County schools but couldn't get enough work. He moved to West Virginia to teach orchestra and choir.

His position there is not permanent, Klinger said.

Klinger says the Butler County schools failed to accommodate Conley under the Americans with Disabilities Act, resulting in lost wages, benefits and other compensation, as well as emotional distress.

Conley is seeking an unspecified amount of back pay and other attorney fees and costs. The lawsuit asks for a jury trial.