Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/524bv.pdf
Page Number: 323

524US2

Unit: $U87

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278 GEBSER v. LAGO VISTA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIST.

Opinion of the Court

remarks to the students, and he began to direct more of his
suggestive comments toward Gebser, including during the
substantial amount of time that the two were alone in his
classroom. He initiated sexual contact with Gebser in the
spring, when, while visiting her home ostensibly to give her
a book, he kissed and fondled her. The two had sexual in-
tercourse on a number of occasions during the remainder
of the school year. Their relationship continued through the
summer and into the following school year, and they often
had intercourse during class time, although never on school
property.

Gebser did not report the relationship to school ofﬁcials,
testifying that while she realized Waldrop’s conduct was
improper, she was uncertain how to react and she wanted
to continue having him as a teacher.
In October 1992, the
parents of two other students complained to the high school
principal about Waldrop’s comments in class. The principal
arranged a meeting, at which, according to the principal,
Waldrop indicated that he did not believe he had made offen-
sive remarks but apologized to the parents and said it would
not happen again. The principal also advised Waldrop to be
careful about his classroom comments and told the school
guidance counselor about the meeting, but he did not report
the parents’ complaint to Lago Vista’s superintendent, who
was the district’s Title IX coordinator. A couple of months
later, in January 1993, a police ofﬁcer discovered Waldrop
and Gebser engaging in sexual intercourse and arrested Wal-
drop. Lago Vista terminated his employment, and subse-
quently, the Texas Education Agency revoked his teaching
license. During this time, the district had not promulgated
or distributed an ofﬁcial grievance procedure for lodging sex-
ual harassment complaints; nor had it issued a formal anti-
harassment policy.

Gebser and her mother ﬁled suit against Lago Vista and
Waldrop in state court in November 1993, raising claims
against the school district under Title IX, Rev. Stat. § 1979,