By Pepper Fisher
SEQUIM – Accusations and lawsuits continue to plague Sequim School District employees, the latest suit coming from Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Maughan, who was placed on paid administrative leave on September 4.
Her Attorney, Shannon McMinimee, told KONP via email that Maughan was placed on leave in direct retaliation for having made a discrimination and retaliation complaint against Interim Superintendent Dr. Jane Pryne.
McMinimee says this is just the most recent in a series of unlawful actions Maughan has been subject to over the course of her employment with the district, claiming there is already a pending Washington Human Rights Commission investigation under way.
We reached out to Dr. Pryne and School Board President Brandino Gibson for a statement. Gibson got back to us via email confirming that Maughan filed the complaint against Pryne on Friday, September 3, the day before Maughan was placed on leave.
Gibson says that because Pryne has been directed by the district’s insurer to have no more communication with Maughan during the investigation, she can no longer act as her supervisor.
He says the district has no one other than Dr. Pryne to supervise Maughan’s work, and for that reason Maughan was placed on paid administrative leave.
For the moment, that is all either party is willing to say.
The news comes on the heels a pending federal lawsuit filed in March after the resignation of Superintendent Rob Clark. That suit, filed by former para-educator Hanna McAndie, alleges Clark attempted to destroy McAndie’s personal and professional reputation by promoting the “scurrilous rumor” that she had an extra-marital affair with Clark’s predecessor, Gary Neal.
Clark was placed on administrative leave before resigning in January.