Review Of School Firing Rejected Ex-Teacher’s Aide May File Lawsuit Against Cda District

A petition filed by a former teacher’s aide asking that his firing be reviewed was dismissed Tuesday.

The ruling in Idaho’s 1st District Court prohibits Jerry Roth from refiling his request. He could, however, file a lawsuit seeking damages, said Craig Vernon, Roth’s attorney.

Roth said he is preparing to file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Coeur d’Alene School District that alleges his constitutional rights were violated.

“I still feel that the school district has used their authority to intimidate a lot of people,” Roth said. “They need to be held accountable for the things that they do that are not right.”

Roth lost his job as a teacher’s aide at Lakes Middle School last February. School officials told Roth that he was fired for not following instructions.

Roth believes he was fired for speaking up against physical abuse of students in the Lakes’ special education program. He says students were dragged, held down and improperly confined in a “timeout” room.

Charles Dodson, the school district’s attorney, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

A police investigation into the allegations did not uncover evidence of wrongdoing.

Attorneys for both parties agreed Tuesday to recommend that Judge Gary Haman dismiss Roth’s petition, according to court records.

The petition filed last spring asked Haman to require the school board to review Roth’s firing. Roth said he agreed to its dismissal because he believed any new hearing before the school board would be one-sided.

Roth said he hopes filing a lawsuit in federal court will hold the school board accountable for its actions, protect the children and restore his reputation.

“Nobody wants to get rich over this,” Roth said. “We just want the children taken care of.”

, DataTimes