8/14/14 - An October trial date is on hold in a lawsuit filed by a former Hartland Consolidated Schools administrator while the district appeals. Tracey Sahouri sued the district in 2012, alleging it violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it failed to renew her administrative contract and eventually re-assigned her to a teaching position. Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Yuille denied a motion by the district to dismiss the lawsuit in April and a trial date was set for October 21st. However, thatâs now on hold as Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman tells WHMI everything has been appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Records show a motion to hear oral arguments was granted in July, although no dates have been scheduled. 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. 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. (JM)
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