Truman Schools Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit
TRUMAN, Minn. (AP) -- The Truman School District in southern Minnesota will settle a lawsuit filed by a paraprofessional who said she was fired for being a whistleblower.
The school board voted Monday night to settle the lawsuit filed by Val Wilcox-Pesta for $80,000. The school district admits no guilt in the matter.
Wilcox-Pesta's lawsuit, filed in 2009, says she went to Principal Brian Shanks after finding marijuana in her son's pocket. Wilcox-Pesta alleged Shanks' son sold her son the drugs. Shanks' son denied the allegations.
The Fairmont Sentinel says Wilcox-Pesta went to state officials and the Minnesota Board of School Administrators because she believed there was a lack of concern by administrators and a failure to discipline students involved in the drug sale. Wilcox-Pesta was notified several months later that her position was eliminated.
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