Belleville BOE, Schools Settle Lawsuit With Ex-Secretary For $90K: Report

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The Belleville Board of Education and school district have settled a lawsuit with a former school secretary for $90,000 after she alleged that she was fired because of a history of mental illness, a report says.

Maria Notare, a former secretary to former Belleville Superintendent of Schools Joseph Picardo, alleged that her employment was not renewed for the 2012-13 school year because of her medical history with mental illness, NorthJersey.com reported.

Notare has required medical treatment prior to her employment as Picardo’s secretary in 2011, was hospitalized on several occasions that same year and also needed to take a leave of absence due to her medical issues, NorthJersey.com stated.

“Despite [Notare’s] mental illness, she was able to perform her job at a satisfactory level that met all of the board’s legitimate expectations,” the original civil complaint alleges.

Read the full report here.

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