Ohio school district under civil-rights investigation

LEBANON, Ohio (AP) — The U.S Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights is investigating racial discrimination complaints brought against a southwest Ohio school district by three mothers of children who were students there.

The federal agency and Lebanon school officials confirmed the investigation Wednesday.

The Dayton Daily News reports the mothers filed separate complaints against the district in April with the help of a Cincinnati lawyer. The complaints allege that high school and junior high school staff and students subjected minority students to a racially hostile environment, racial slurs and other claims.

The letter announcing the investigation indicates the separate complaints have been merged into one investigation.

The newspaper says the federal case could result in the district adding programs that encourage racial tolerance.