Palatine Dist 15 approves settlement with former assistant principal

The Palatine Township Elementary School District 15 school board approved a settlement agreement Wednesday with a former employee that includes a $260,000 payment to Wong by the district's insurer.

Elizabeth Wong, a former assistant principal, filed a federal lawsuit against the District 15 board, Superintendent Scott Thompson and three other staff members in 2011 that accused them of violating the Illinois Whistleblower Act.

According to the suit, Wong claimed the principal of her school, Carl Sandburg Junior High, had been drinking on the job and was sexually harassing female employees.

Wong claimed no investigations were conducted into the complaints she said she filed with the district's assistant superintendent, according to the suit.

Instead of addressing her concerns, Wong said, District officials transferred her to Whiteley Elementary School in Hoffman Estates as assistant principal.

Wong was terminated from District 15 in March 2011 for performance-related issues, she said.

District 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson Wednesday recommended the board approve the settlement agreement that includes "a mutual release of claims, a non-disparagement clause, a confidentiality clause to the extent permitted by the law, no re-employment of Ms. Wong by the board, the rescission of Ms. Wong's nonrenewal and acceptance of her resignation and Ms. Wong's ability to use certain letters of reference."

According to Thompson, the settlement also includes Wong's voluntary dismissal of pending suits she filed against the board and the four other defendants.

"The settlement also includes a monetary payment of $260,000 to Ms. Wong, which will be paid entirely by the district's insurer," he said.

As part of the confidentiality agreement, no additional questions about the settlement could be answered by board members Wednesday.

Board member Manjula Sriram recused herself from voting on the issue, and all other board members approved the settlement.