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Wild Rose stands by dismissal of superintendent

Wild Rose School board chairman Keith Warren says the board is sticking to its decision regarding the dismissal of a former superintendent.

Wild Rose School board chairman Keith Warren says the board is sticking to its decision regarding the dismissal of a former superintendent.

Beverly Hammond filed a $5.29-million lawsuit with Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Tuesday, claiming that the school division breached her employment and termination agreements, and damaged her reputation and health.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

The division will provide its side of the story once it files its statement of defence, Warren said on Thursday.

The division has 15 days to file and will probably ask for an extension, which is common in legal proceeding, he said.

“We wish to put this thing to bed as much as Bev does,” Warren said.

Hammond’s statement of claim says a medical condition prevented her from working for a period of time in 2008 and that she and the division executed a mutual termination agreement that would pay her $367,870, equal to 12 months salary, benefits and pension.

She claims the school division failed to honour the agreement and instead offered salary and unused vacation entitlement of about $175,000.

She says omissions and acts of Wild Rose school board trustees impacted her reputation and damaged her health. Compensation is also sought for mental stress and suffering for the manner of termination and future loss of income.