Release Documents, Judge Tells District

Sat., Feb. 26, 2000

From Staff

A judge has ordered Spokane School District 81 to release documents relating to the resignation of a former principal.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Richard Schroeder made the ruling Friday. But an attorney representing Phillip Newsum, former principal of Glover Middle School, immediately asked for a delay while he appeals the ruling to a higher court.

The Spokesman-Review requested documents this month from District 81 regarding the resignation of Newsum. In response, Newsum’s attorney, Paul J. Burns of Spokane, filed suit against the school district to block release of the documents and obtained a temporary retraining order. Newsum is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent release of the documents.

Newsum resigned as principal Dec. 22 to pursue career opportunities outside education. At the time, however, District 81 officials were looking into financial matters at Glover.

The judge privately viewed the documents before issuing his ruling.

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