Former Dunbar principal receives $500,000 settlement from Fayette County schools, agreement says

The former principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School will receive $500,000 from Fayette County Public Schools as part of a lawsuit settlement, according to the court agreement the Herald-Leader received under the Kentucky Open Records said.

Marlon Ball, who was placed on leave for much of the 2022-2023 school year, received $500,000 and agreed not to seek further employment in the district, according to the agreement.

“I don’t dispute the information about the settlement as reported,” attorney Dale Golden, who represented Ball, told the Herald-Leader Wednesday after a WLEX report about the settlement details.

District spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith said district officials don’t comment on personnel matters.

“But I can say the suit has been settled by both parties,” Davidson-Smith said.

On November 2, 2022, Ball was placed on administrative leave while Fayette County Schools investigated an allegation of inappropriate conduct, according to a letter from Superintendent Demetrus Liggins to Ball.

An FCPS investigation found Ball committed no wrongdoing and the case was closed without disciplinary action, Liggins previously said.

Ball was employed from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

This story was originally published October 11, 2023 at 1:54 PM.