Wilmington settles pool discrimination lawsuit with Muslim school

WILMINGTON, Del. (FOX 29) - A Muslim school and five of its families have reached a settlement with a Delaware city where several children were asked to leave a public pool because of their cotton garments.

A spokesperson for Mayor Mike Purzycki's office confirmed the settlement Wednesday. Wilmington does not admit wrongdoing, but will train staff and issue revised regulations to "expressly accommodate clothing worn for religious reasons or financial hardship."

The school asserted city staff discriminated against and harassed seven children because of their religion last summer.

MORE: Wilmington mayor apologizes after Muslim swimmers asked to leave public pool | Asking Muslim kids to leave pool not discrimination, manager says

Glenda Pinkett, a seasonal city employee, said she was following well-known guidance that cotton clogs pool filters, even though there may not be a written no-cotton policy.

"There was absolutely no discrimination involved," Pinkett told FOX 29. "It wasn't about religion or certain groups. It was simply about the material."

Mayor Mike Purzycki later said no such cotton restriction exists. After he issued an apology, the school said staffers closed the pool before students could go in.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.