DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – A diabetic Dothan public school teacher and the bosses she sued may resolve their legal disagreements.
Court records reveal that Dothan High instructor Jolie Cannon and attorneys for the Dothan Board of Education jointly requested that a judge put her lawsuit on hold as they work out details of a possible settlement.
Cannon alleged that school administrators violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and put her life at risk by denying her access to the internet so she could continuously monitor her glucose readings.
A Dothan High teacher since 1999, Cannon alleged her diabetes is so severe that she must monitor blood sugar using data transmitted via the internet or cellular service.
Her lawsuit, filed on June 12, claimed cell service inside the school is unreliable, and administrators denied her WIFI access, citing security concerns.
After conferring with experts, Cannon said she suggested a secondary Wi-Fi setup that would provide her with service but limit her access, which she believes would have resolved the security concerns. However, she claimed, school administrators rejected the idea.
She admitted that the school provided her with a “Hotspot.” Still, she said, the device would not work with her monitor and another system that sent readings to her doctor’s office and shared those readings with family in case of an emergency.
A few weeks after she filed the suit, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Chad Bryan ordered mandatory mediation.
This week’s filing indicated the suit will likely settle, negating the need for a trial, which court officials set for October 2026.
Since she filed the suit, a new principal took over at Dothan High, several new school board members were elected, and a new superintendent was hired.
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