Settlement Recommendation Made in Sahouri LawsuitSettlement Recommendation Made in Sahouri Lawsuit

4/5/13 - The legal battle between a demoted administrator who sued the Hartland Consolidated Schools district continues but it appears unlikely the parties will accept a newly proposed settlement. The suit alleges the Hartland district violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it failed to renew the administrative contract of Tracey Sahouri and eventually re-assigned her to a teaching position but also claims she was the subject of harassment and discrimination. An alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, hearing was held in Genesee County Circuit Court this week, during which both sides presented their case to an un-biased three-member legal panel that determines a probable outcome and proposed settlement. $525,000 was the figure produced. Sahouri is being represented by Attorney Tom Pabst, who tells WHMI the amount is really a compromise figure and feels a jury would agree that it's worth much more but still needs to discuss everything with his client. Sahouri was removed as the principal of Creekside Elementary School after a state report concluded a breach of security in administering the MEAP test to students there in 2011. She then served as an Assistant Principal at the high school before the district declined to renew her administrative contract. Sahouri has since been assigned to work as a study skills and special-education teacher at the district's Legacy alternative high school. A statement released by Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman says they remain confident the correct personnel decisions were made and maintain that Sahouri was found to have committed misconduct by both the Michigan Department of Education and the district. Both parties have 28 days to accept or reject the panel’s determination, which is not binding unless both sides accept it. If either side rejects it, then the case will proceed to trial. (JM)