Leaders of an eastern Iowa school district are pondering a potential appeal of a court case. The Durant School District has lost a lawsuit in district court over the firing of its high school principal.

Superintendent Duane Bark initially suspended principal Monica Rouse in September of 2009. She was accused of a long list of mistakes but denied any wrongdoing. The school board voted to fire Rouse in March of 2010, even though an administrative law judge had determined there were no grounds for termination. A new high school principal was hired.

Rouse filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination in Cedar County District Court last April. A judge has ruled there was no evidence to support Rouse’s firing and has ordered the district to reinstate her.

In the meantime, Superintendent Bark is planning to leave at the end of this school year to return to his native Wisconsin.

by Phil Roberts