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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 Boards 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.
Well 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.
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