Centennial Agrees to Settle Lawsuit
Among the items set for discussion this evening at the Centennial School Board of Directors meeting is the payout for the settlement of a lawsuit between the district and a former employee.
Photos
The Centennial School Board will meet this evening at 7 p.m. in the board meeting room of the Johnsville Administration Building, 433 Centennial Road, in Warminster.
As part of the meeting agenda, the board will vote to approve a settlement agreement in the Sandy Homel lawsuit.
Sandy Homel was the former acting superintendent of the district who filed suit against the district last year. Homel's suit alleged that she was removed from her position due to gender bias and in retribution for filing complaints.
A trial was set to begin in federal court last week, but just days before the court was expected to hear opening arguments an agreement was reached.
Initally documents filed with the court stated Homel was seeking damages in excess of $150,000 for each of the five counts detailed in the suit.
While the details of the settlement between the district and Homel remain undisclosed, it comes on the heels of another settlement payout by the district to former Willow Dale Elementary School principal Donna Dunar.
Dunar also filed suit against the district last year claiming discrimination and sexual harrassment. According to court documents, the district paid more than $60,000 to settle Dunar's suit last fall.
These payouts come at a time when the district is facing some tough decisions regarding its upcoming budget. The settlement discussions occupy the same consent agenda as several suggestions for academic programs to be discontinued in the upcoming year.
Can't make the meeting meeting? As always, the district invites those who are unable to attend to watch the proceedings broadcast live on public access television or over the Internet via the district’s website.
In This article
-
Centennial School District - School Board Meeting
January 25, 2011 / February 8, 2011 / February 22, 2011 / March 8, 2011 / March 22, 2011 / April 12, 2011 / April 26, 2011 / May 10, 2011 / May 24, 2011 / June 14, 2011 / September 13, 2011 / September 27, 2011 / October 11, 2011 / October 25, 2011 / November 7, 2011 / November 22, 2011 / December 5, 2011 / December 13, 2011 / January 10, 2012 / January 24, 2012 / February 14, 2012 / February 28, 2012 / March 13, 2012 / March 27, 2012 / April 10, 2012 / April 23, 2012 / May 8, 2012 / May 22, 2012 / June 12, 2012 / June 26, 2012 at 7:00 pm -
-
-
-
Gray Wolf
6:34 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
So we are still paying for the mistakes of a disgraced superintendent, Turnbaugh. Adding insult to injury- that bum was the only district employee to get a raise last year!
Pamela
9:11 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Well now that is why the district now wants to turn the middle schools into Junior High schools. They would cut 19 teaching positions and "save" that money. I guess to pay out to the next lawsuit coming up.....
Michelle Hazlett
3:44 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
What happened to the school district directing its lawyers to vigorously defend the alligations in court? This school board makes me sick!! Maybe the budget would not be in such debt if they didn't do stupid things! Can we make a vote of No Confidence against this school board and get them all removed!! Settling on these lawsuits just tells me that they are in fact...GUILTY!!!!!
Pete Krenshaw
4:44 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Apparently they couldn't defend themselves as easily as they anticipated...it certainly makes one wonder about their ability to do anything in regards to budgets and planning. These are the people whom we entrust our children to with the expectation of quality education and a safe environment. No matter where we turn (buses, classrooms, sports, quality of administration, faculty and staff and the quality of construction design) it all appears to fall way short of realistic expectations.
James Peter
5:09 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Great article !!
It's a crime that Centenial taxpayers have to burden the costs of that poor excuse for a Superindent Turnbaugh!!
Too bad we can't hold his "buddy" Dr. Pollock liable for the expenses!!!!
Steve G
6:05 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
School Board Report Card
Fiscal Responsibility F
Common Sense F-
Hiring Superintendent F
Real World Budgets F
Handling Litigation F
Attitude Toward Taxpayers F-
I suggest that the School Board Members attend Summer School this summer and take finance and accounting courses. Hopefully they will learn something. If not, we will continue to see higher than average taxes increases every year as we have in the past few years. Maybe they have Special Education for School Boards!
Steve A
9:16 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Right On Steve G!
concerned123
10:41 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I really wish the Tax Payers in Centennial will wake up and vote this board of over spending poor decision makers out. Dr Pollack leadership is putting this disctrict in the same boat Neshaminy is in. So we were 1.7 mil in debt before they approved a new teachers contract last year and now it jumped to 4 mil in debt in a year.
They increased the teachers medical perks including spouses.and gave them 2 to 5 % raises depending on their steps in the pay matrix 3 out of the 4 years in their new deal. hmmmmm I wonder who is getting screwed.? Mr.and Mrs Taxpayer.
Not to mention they are building three new schools ,settling lawsuits and buying half million dollar sound systems in the worst economic times since the depression.
You think its toime for these idiots to go ? We need to get financially intelligent board members who think of the tax payer first !