Decatur High Clerk Was Harassed Before Firing, Lawyer Says

DECATUR, GA -- A popular media clerk at Decatur High School who was fired, then reinstated pending a review, was harassed by coworkers before being let go, her attorney says.

Susan Riley, who is 61, was harassed because of her age by other media specialists at the school and her firing came, in part, because she complained about that treatment to administrators, Decatur attorney David Hughes claims in a news release.

Riley and Hughes met with City Schools of Decatur Superintendent David Dude on Tuesday.

"The reason given (Tuesday) by CSD for Riley’s initial termination is not credible," Hughes said in the release. "Instead, it is a mere pretext to cover for the harassment and discrimination inflicted upon her."

The school system, meanwhile, issued its own statement on Thursday, saying there are "a number of material inaccuracies" in Hughes' account.

Riley, who, in 2011, was named a Decatur “Hometown Hero,” was fired Friday, quickly igniting a backlash among current and former students who rallied in support of her. Dude at least temporarily reversed courses on Sunday, reinstating Riley and placing her on paid leave until the case could be reviewed.

The Decatur school board held an emergency called meeting on Sunday, during which they discussed a personnel matter behind closed doors. The next morning, about 100 people gathered to rally in support of Riley across the street from Decatur High.

According to Hughes, the reasons listed for Riley's termination were:

• Misappropriating school property by taking home an iPad. Hughes says the iPad was purchased for Riley's use and that she had properly checked it out.
• Failing to follow a new job plan given to her.
• Inappropriately complaining to administrators about co-workers behavior toward her.
• Failing to keep a human-resources investigation into her claims confidential.

"Riley denies that she did anything wrong regarding these matters that would warrant her dismissal," Hughes said. "Dude now acknowledges that the information upon which he relied in terminating Riley is questionable and may have been false."

Dude, who became superintendent of Decatur schools in November, has not publicly responded to Hughes' characterization of the meeting or other comments.

But, on Thursday, the school system issued a statement calling into question Hughes' account of the meeting.

"There are a number of material inaccuracies in the press release prepared by Susan Riley’s attorney," the statement reads. "The school system is not going to publicly correct those inaccuracies nor are we going to engage in a public discussion about this matter while under review."

The statement says City Schools of Decatur will "perform an independent, impartial review of the allegations

that led to her termination, and ... take appropriate action following the conclusion of that review."

Dude acknowledged in a statement on Sunday that "some significant accusations have been raised regarding the validity of the investigation, and resulting information, that led to the termination of Mrs. Riley’s employment.”

In his statement, Hughes says that a media specialist who worked with Riley "had continually stated and otherwise implied that Riley, who is 61 years old, should figure out a way to retire as soon as she could.

"After Riley complained," he added, "the harassment continued and grew worse."

His statement also claims that Riley was denied a promotion and pay raise that she had been promised under the school's old administration.