Indiana district should have disclosed facts in 2 dismissals

CARMEL, Ind. (AP) - Indiana's public access counselor says a suburban Indianapolis school district should have disclosed the reasons it dismissed two top administrators.

WTHR-TV and The Indianapolis Star filed complaints with Luke Britt's office seeking records from Carmel Clay Schools explaining why it dismissed former superintendent Nicholas Wahl and former human resources director Corrine Middleton.

Britt said in his findings that Wahl and Middleton were dismissed for "disciplinary reasons" following a three-month district investigation during which they were on paid leave.

He found the district and its attorney tried to sidestep Indiana's public records law and "should have provided a factual basis" for their dismissals.

WTHR-TV reports Indiana's law requires public school districts to disclose a "factual basis" whenever they take disciplinary action that leads to an employee being suspended, demoted or discharged.