| Former parapro suing CPS over firing
By Jeremy Carroll CLAWSON — A former special education paraprofessional has sued Clawson Public Schools, alleging she was fired after she reported a third-grader was selling prescription drugs and encouraged a co-worker to report a sexual harassment claim against another teacher. Janine Fisher-Ethier filed the suit against CPS Feb. 16 in Oakland County Circuit Court. According to the suit, Fisher-Ethier was hired in January 2007 as a special education paraprofessional at Schalm Elementary School. In April 2008, Fisher-Ethier claims she saw a third-grade student selling amphetamine pills to other students, and she told the latchkey supervisor about the situation. According to the suit, Fisher-Ethier was confronted by the school’s principal, Patricia Pell, and told that she “overstepped her authority,” and if she saw any pills in the future, she was to “shut her mouth and walk away.” Later, Fisher-Ethier claims she witnessed a teacher sexually harass another teacher, and she encouraged the alleged victim to report the harassment to administration. It was at that time that a teacher told administration Fisher-Ethier instructed two students to haul a special education student by his hands down the hall — a claim Fisher-Ethier denies. She told the CPS Board of Education about the various incidents and was fired on Nov. 19, 2009. She is suing under the Whistleblower Protection Act, according to the 11-page complaint. “My client worked for a principal who had zero interest in ensuring school rules,” said Fisher-Ethier’s attorney, Deborah Gordon. “Instead she is more interested in sweeping things under the rug. And my client didn’t want to do that.” Gordon said the incidents were not passed along the appropriate chain of command in the district. “It’s just very unfortunate that a good employee is gone,” she said. Superintendent Cheryl Rogers said the district received the suit and has referred it to legal counsel. “We believe the suit lacks merit and the district looks forward to having the claims adjudicated in a court of law,” she said. You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1110. |
