Jane Colson Perseveres and Settles with Marysville School District
Jane Colson Perseveres and Settles with Marysville School District
In yet another strange twist by the Marysville School District administration, a sum of more than two hundred and forty thousand dollars was paid out to a tenured employee. Jane Colson, an educational administrator with a statewide reputation for excellence, resigned by agreement after six years at Sunnyside Elementary School after protracted negotiations. The settlement was made necessary “as a result of significant and damaging actions taken by the district’s Human Resource Director while dealing with what clearly amounted to a false allegation by a member of Mrs. Colson’s staff,” according to attorney Mitch Cogdill of Everett.
“Instead of exploring the allegation and the employee, who has had several employment lapses and made her statement as a reason for transfer to Marysville’s new school, the district placed my client on administrative leave. They further defamed her by sending out letters the next day to staff and parents that assumed guilt without any due process,” said Cogdill.
Colson, in discussing the allegation that she struck the teacher on the shoulder in front of 30 to 40 witnesses, said; “I have never hit anyone, ever.” When pressed further she maintained that Sunnyside was a great school with extremely competent teachers and staff. “I am completely surprised by all of this,” she said.
The district’s Human Resource Director took five weeks to conduct, not an investigation into the single allegation, but a climate survey. Colson’s attorney called the climate survey ‘completely shoddy, leaving out key facts and statements supporting Colson.” In a letter to the district Cogdill further opined “that the climate survey conducted by the same HR Director was a means of re-victimizing an employee with a sterling record so as to mitigate the district’s previous misdeeds.” In the end, District Superintendent Larry Nyland agreed. Mrs. Colson’s record was expunged, her reputation as an high performing educator was restored, and the district agreed to damages with a large lump sum buyout with comprehensive medical coverage over three years.
“[The settlement] provides a chance for a fresh start,” said Nyland. Colson was complimentary of the superintendent and though she wondered why it took so long was thankful to fellow principals and staff who stood with her. “My reputation was unnecessarily put on trial,” said Colson, “I thought it important to fight so that I could continue to focus my energies on children’s education.”