Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
At their meeting last Thursday evening, the Pennsbury School Board approved a settlement in one of three lawsuits filed by former administrators.
The terms of the settlement with Sherri Morett were not immediately released, but this news organization has filed a Right to Know request seeking information on the agreement. The district did note the settlement was handled through an insurance company.
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The school board approved the settlement 6-3 on Thursday night with members Joshua Waldorf, Debra Wachspress, and Christine Toy-Dragoni all voting against accepting the agreement.
The school board, Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula, Morett, and insurance company attorneys all declined comment following the meeting.
On Friday, documents on the case were filed in federal court that dropped Gretzula; Chester County educator Dr. Joseph O’Brien, who conducted an internal investigation at Pennsbury; former Assistant Superintendent Donna Dunar; board members Waldorf, Wachspress, and Toy-Dragoni; and district parent Annette Dearolf from the lawsuit. The school district remained the only defendant.
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“It having been reported that the parties have settled all claims, it is hereby ordered that this matter is dismissed with prejudice,” U.S. District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond noted in an order filed Friday.
“I am being dismissed from the case and admit no wrongdoing,” Wachspress and Toy-Dragoni both said during Thursday’s public meeting.
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Waldorf said he echoed those comments.
As the school board meeting was happening, Toy-Dragoni was commenting about reopening, Gretzula’s unexpected retirement announcement, and the lawsuit on the Pennsbury Uncensored Facebook page.
“It’s public comment on YouTube that we were each dismissed- as in not part of the settlement. Also each admitted to no wrongdoing. Sorry that doesn’t follow your narrative of big trouble to come… and Dr G resigning etc.- but those are the facts,” she posted in response to comments.
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In her lawsuit, Morett said there were problems with “instances of blatant discrimination” within the district, one of the largest in the state.
She also talked about instances of discrimination and problems with how complaints were handled, including retribution. She said the superintendent made it difficult for her to do her job and then blamed her for problems.
Credit: Pennsbury School District
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Morett, who left Pennsbury to go to the Pottstown School District, claimed in her lawsuit that Wachpress, who recently ran for congress and has been an outspoken supporter of Gretzula, of using offensive terms to describe black people, members of the Jewish faith, and gay men in a 2018 private meeting.
Wachpress later admitted to use of an offensive term but denied the others and then dropped her bid for congress.
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“The allegations in this fraudulent suit are complete and utter distortions,” she said at the time.
Some school board members have told community members privately the lawsuits were not accurate and the district would be fighting them, this news organization learned.
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In statements made to the media, the district and school board previously said they would fight the claims and called the allegations “baseless.”
Lawsuits by former technology director Kevin Dorsey and former Fallsington Elementary School Principal Brian Shaffer continue to move forward.
Previous Reporting:
- Pennsbury Superintendent Says He Plans To Retire Next Year
- Third Former Pennsbury Administrator Sues District
- EXCLUSIVE: Documents Pennsbury Fighting To Keep Hidden Alleges ‘Kickbacks’
- Superintendent Calls Student Protest ‘Hurtful,’ Board Members Comment On Lawsuits
- Students Protest After Troubles In Pennsbury
- Debbie Wachspress Ends Campaign After Use Of Offensive Language Comes To Light
- Pennsbury School Board President Reacts To Lawsuits, Claims Of Misconduct
- Lawsuit Claims Congressional Candidate Used Offensive Terms In 2018
- Two Former Admins File Lawsuits Against Pennsbury, Claim Discrimination
- EXCLUSIVE: Pennsbury Prepares For Lawsuits Amid Allegations Of Retaliation
- Pennsbury Keeps Superintendent Until 2023
- EXCLUSIVE: Complaints Filed Over Comments, Actions Of Pennsbury Superintendent, Documents & Sources State
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