9/24/13 - Arguments were heard yesterday on a motion by Hartland Consolidated Schools to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former administrator. The hearing Monday in Genesee County Circuit Court allowed attorneys for both the district and Tracey Sahouri make their respective cases. Sahouriâs suit alleges the district violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it failed to renew her administrative contract and eventually re-assigned her to a teaching position. Sahouriâs attorney, Tom Pabst, claims her removal as principal at Creekside Elementary was in retaliation for reporting ongoing âirregularitiesâ in how the district administered the MEAP tests. The district contends her re-assignment was based on the conclusions of a state report that determined teachers at the school improperly gained access to material from the tests in 2011, which constituted a breach of security, and thus sheâs ineligible for a Whistleblower defense. Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Yuille took the arguments under advisement and will issue a ruling at a later date. A three-member legal panel previously recommended the district settle the lawsuit for $525,000, but that was rejected by the Hartland school board, which stood 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. (JK)
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