HUNTINGTON
Settlement Reached
By Tricia Arend/ tarend@longislandernews.com

Almost a year after she filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school district she had worked in for 17 years, Huntington High School principal Dr. Carmela Leonardi was offered an undisclosed settlement by the Huntington School District.

Leonardi filed the lawsuit on August 17, 2007 after school authorities involuntarily reassigned her to the position of principal of an alternative high school, the plans for which had not been finalized by late August and the details of which were never released to district parents.

Leonardi maintained last summer that the reassignment came as a result of the Board’s perception that she assisted Hispanic students significantly more than others. In the suit she states that officials’ disapproval of her efforts mounted after a Board meeting during which she translated for Spanish-speaking parents.

Before the 2007-2008 school year commenced Leonardi was reinstated to the position of high school principal.

Leonardi declined to comment and her attorney Steven Morelli did not return calls for comment as of press time.

According to attorney Rondiene Novitz, who represents the school district, the resolution was amicably reached by all parties.

“We’ll all be able to move forward towards our common goal of educating the children,” Novitz said.

Before the settlement can be accepted, the School Board must first approve it, said Novitz, who was unable to speculate on when the Board would reach their decision.

New School Board president William Dwyer referred calls to Novitz. Dwyer also stated that although the Board is looking to formalize the plans for the alternative school Leonardi was originally reassigned as principal over, for now the plans are on hold.