5/2/13 - A proposed settlement offer with former Principal Tracey Sahouri has been rejected by the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education. In a statement released this morning, the district said it is standing by the decisions that were made in regard to Sahouri, who it says was found to have committed misconduct by both the Michigan Department of Education and the district. Sahouri filed a lawsuit against the district alleging they violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it failed to renew her administrative contract and eventually re-assigned her to a teaching position. A three-member legal panel came up with a proposed settlement amount of $525,000. The recommendation is not binding and required both sides to agree. Sahouriâs attorney previously said if the district didnât accept the settlement, he thinks a jury will award her far more than that when they go to trial. Sahouri was re-assigned after a state report concluded a breach of security in administering the MEAP test to Creekside Elementary students in 2011. The lawsuit alleges the decision not to renew her contract was made in part because of rumors surrounding criminal charges that had been filed against Sahouri and her husband in a separate case that alleged they knowingly allowed minors to drink alcohol at a party at their home, although those charges were later dismissed. She also claims her removal as principal was in retaliation for reporting ongoing âirregularitiesâ in how the district administered the MEAP tests. (JK)
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