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2008-01-03  TOP STORIES | Purdie to sue Forsyth County school system
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| | by Jennie Duncan | |  |
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| | | (SPECIAL/www.northfulton.com)PURDIE (click for larger version) | |
January 07, 2008
The former director of special education with Forsyth County Schools is now suing the system for wrongful demotion from her job. The school system denies any wrongdoing.
Sharon Purdie, former director of special education, said she loved her job, helping facilitate the education of special needs students, until she said she was unwillingly removed from the position.
Purdie was then placed in a previously nonexistent position as Director of Special Projects, given the same pay rate, but had no specific duties.
Purdie said this was not a "lateral move" and claims that what began the situation was a straightforward duty required of her by law.
"A parent of a special needs student asked me how to file a complaint with the county and I gave them the information necessary to proceed," Purdie said. "If I ever go back, I'll do the same thing. My job was to protect the rights of special education students and facilitate their education, not withhold information."
Attorney Matthew Billups is representing Purdie.
"What a lot of people don't know is that when we first began trying to obtain e-mails and other records from the school district, they told us we would be charged $45,000 for the records to be pulled," Billups said. "They had an obligation to show us these open records for free. We refused to acquiesce, and the initial lawsuit was filed by the school system against Ms. Purdie."
Phil Hartley, attorney for Forsyth County Schools, said the school system has done nothing wrong.
"The school district denies any discrimination, retaliation or wrong-doing," said Hartley. "We are certainly confident that we will prevail in this case. The decision being challenged was to laterally transfer Ms. Purdie to another position in the school system. It is not our firm's policy to comment further on the confidential personnel decisions of the school system."
Purdie has been in education for 27 years and has worked as an administrator for 17 years.
"I feel like it's all been taken from me. I felt like I was doing a good job in my position and I got demoted for performing a duty I was required by law to do," said Purdie.
The Forsyth County School System has won the Pacesetter Award for the past three years in a row. The award is given by the Georgia Department of Education in recognition of outstanding programs developed for children with disabilities.
"I feel like the receipt of this award three years in a row speaks volumes about the job I was doing," said Purdie.
Purdie has been on medical leave recently and has not been released to return to work.
"I feel like right now, I'm not doing what I'm meant to be doing, which is helping children with disabilities reach their full potential. This suit could be a long, drawn-out episode," she said.
- www.northfulton.com
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Reader Comments
These are our reader's opinions and thoughts.The opinions on this site are posted by our readers, and are not edited by Appen Inc.
HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH?
February 16, 2008 | 11:04 PM
The school district cannot even comment on this lawsuit, so how do all you folks know so much. Even the "she's the best we've ever had" comment is outrageous. Who knows all the SPED Directors and has worked closely enough with them to be able to evaluate their work? I've worked with the system many years and have been involved in hundreds of special ed cases, and I've yet to know as much as many of your posters.
Seymour Butts
February 07, 2008 | 02:23 PM
Christie
I am one of the people that made some noise on Sept 20, 2007 at the school board together with other parents. We asked for her re-instatement and presneted a petition to the school board.
Most fear retaliation. REtaliation can happen and will continue to happen unless you file all the appropropriate grievances availabe to you as a parent with every agency imaginable, including the superintendent, the state dept of education, the office of civil rights, the justice department, the Georgia Advocacy office at www.thegao.org and all your legilsators
I urge you to do so and urge everytone to do so.
Continue circulating this petition:
www.petitiononline.com/0928
anon
Watching this story as are many others.
January 25, 2008 | 05:54 PM
I have been following this story as many of my colleagues throughout the states have been. I am from the midwest and work in this area of law. What Ms. Purdie did is what a person in her position is expected to do. If she had not followed the law as she did, she could have gotten herself and the school system in trouble.
It concerns me greatly as a tax paying citizen that when a public servant does the right thing, he or she is retaliated against.
The public expects the school system to uphold the law and they did not. Instead they tried to hide the issue and silence a person reporting incidents that they have a duty to report. The school administrators cannot have it both ways and earn the public's trust. This school needs to be accountable for what they failed to do in response to the illegal incidents they allowed to take place. They owe it to the public whom they are supposed to serve.
JD
Sharon Purdie was the very, best Forsyth County Schools ever had
January 22, 2008 | 09:19 AM
I have experienced first hand the professionalism, true dedication to the welfare of ALL children in public education and her deep understanding of the needs of children with challenges.
Sharon was and is a tireless advocate for parents and children and quality educators. In the ever deepening morass of political "policy", Sharon was a human being with Emotional Intelligence (Robert Goleman's terminology). Our children are the nations greatest natural resouce. I personally wish the County Board of Education would pay more attention to the real issues - issues of humanity than being "snack police". Endless discussion and ongoing directive of the healthy or unhealthy snacks sent in by parents - amounting to nothing, while IEP's go unfullfilled and special needs not addressed. While Sharon Purdie was at the helm, I personally saw and felt changes, positive programs and communication was open. I wondered why this year was different? When I went to call Sharon - I could no longer find her on the website.
There is no longer a can-do atmosphere, a let's see how we can "work this out with in our system" partnership. I have felt, and now I know why, a "no" and a distinct - "UM - we don't feel that is necessary - we are following the IEP". When indeed, IEP is a fluid - working model. I have had the wonderful experience of working with two incredible women hired by Sharon. As I understood as of when I attended an open forum held at Dave's Creek in 2006 - Sharon had wonderful plans - not the least of which was improving communication between the schools and Special Ed - County/in the Schools and the parents. This is sadly not happening.
I certainly hope to see Sharon Purdie back soon - and I encourage anyone who feels likewise to make some noise.
Christie Capin
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