A student group that opposes abortion has sued the St. Michael-Albertville School District, saying that it has been denied student club status.

The lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday alleges that the northwest metro school district denied the All Life Is Valuable club the same benefits and access other groups get because it doesn't "support the student body as a whole." The club said in its lawsuit that it would focus on issues such as abortion, abstinence and politics.

But Superintendent Marcia Ziegler said the student organizer was never denied access and has never filed an application to start the club after discussing the idea with the high school principal in January.

"I don't know how he's been refused club status," she said Friday. "The club can meet."

She said the 5,200-student district was never contacted by the student's parent or lawyers until after paperwork was filed Thursday. "All of a sudden, there's a lawsuit," she said.

The student group's attorney, Chuck Shreffler, spoke with district leaders Friday and said, "We've got a disagreement with the facts. We're standing by the allegations in this complaint."

KELLY SMITH