Sep 23, 2014 2 min read

Peters Township School District paid nearly $2 million after agreeing to settle out of court a case of gender and age discrimination brought by 17 teachers and guidance counselors.

The women, who accused their employer of failing to provide pay commensurate with their experience, and hiring younger or male teachers at higher salaries, were paid $1,281,709. Their attorneys were paid $718,605, according to a copy of the settlement released following a Tribune-Review Right-to-Know request. Both the district and the plaintiffs filed a motion to dismiss the suit Aug. 15.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Colleen Johnston, said their individual settlements represent about 70 percent of the wages lost because they were improperly classified relative to work experience.

“They are very happy with the outcome of this very long litigation process, going on nearly five years,” she said, “They feel vindicated.”

“All of the women were employed at the time of the filing (in September 2010), and some retired as the suit made its way through court,” said Nikki Velisaris Lykos, an attorney with Johnston’s law firm.

According to the district’s website, 11 of the 17 plaintiffs are currently employed by the school district.

The district argued in court it was not liable, and that different superintendents between 1993 and 2008 hired the most qualified applicants at the lowest pay acceptable to new hires.

A Peters Township School District spokeswoman deferred comment to district solicitor Jocelyn Kramer, who could not be reached.