Former transportation director sues school district
The former transportation supervisor for McGuffey School District filed suit against the district, seven board members and the superintendent of schools, claiming he was furloughed from his job due to an alleged “substantial” enrollment decrease while the superintendent’s and board members’ relatives remained on the payroll.
Jason Kern of Claysville, after two years on the job, was furloughed in June, although he was rehired as a softball coach. In his complaint filed in Washington County Court, Kern claims the district’s enrollment actually increased during his tenure.
Named as defendants along with the district were Directors Carl Group, Kenneth Leasure, Jeffrey Ross, Richard Shriver, Edward Shingle, J. Scott Finch II and Edward Szygenda and Superintendent Erica Kolat. Kern claims each of the directors he named as defendants has one or more relatives employed by the district and the district hired three children of school board members and a niece of the superintendent during the past three years.
“None of the new hires were terminated in the recent furloughs,” Kern alleged. “None of the other eight family members of the school board members were terminated due to alleged budgetary constraints.”
Kern also claimed he was replaced as supervisor by a person with less experience who is receiving a larger salary.
Kern said the school district violated its own policies and provisions in the Pennsylvania School Code by employing relatives of school board members and by not giving him 60 days’ notice.
He demanded back pay and damages for his loss of earnings and benefits, costs and attorney’s fees. He also asked to be reinstated.
A call for comment to the superintendent’s office Wednesday afternoon was not immediately returned.