AG’s lawsuit against Wentzville schools postponed again. Trial date still unset.

A St. Charles County judge granted a third delay for a hearing in the lawsuit, which alleges that Wentzville schools violated the state’s open records law by discussing bathroom policies for transgender students behind closed doors.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed the lawsuit against the district in September 2023, but a status hearing has now been rescheduled for September 23 of this year. It was originally set for February.

Both parties are expecting to schedule a trial date during the September 23 hearing.

Bailey’s lawsuit last fall brought attention to the culture wars within the Wentzville School District, which were intensifying at the time.

Superintendent Danielle Tormala resigned from her position in April after less than two years in the district due to threats and safety concerns. She received a buyout of over $1 million for the remaining three years of her contract.

Bailey’s lawsuit was initiated after three board members, Jen Olson, David Lewis, and Renee Henke, informed the attorney general about discussions they claimed occurred in closed session, violating state law.

According to the lawsuit, during a meeting on July 26, 2023, Tormala mentioned that a transgender student in one of the district’s high schools was using the girls’ bathrooms, and that other students already viewed the student as “just one of the girls.”

In affidavits, both Olson and Henke stated that they tried to urge district administrators to discuss the policy in an open session, but the administrators hesitated due to concerns that the policy would attract lawsuits and negative attention.

Representatives for Bailey’s office and Wentzville schools did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

In January, Wentzville’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit was denied by Alessi, who found that Bailey’s petition contained all the necessary elements for a claim for relief.