Professional Administrators of New Orleans Public Schools' Court Ruling is Upheld

AFSA Local 17 along with other New Orleans public school employees win the right to file a class action lawsuit, rules Judge Julien, Louisiana Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. The Professional Administrators of New Orleans Public Schools, Inc., AFSA Local 17, may now move forward in their lawsuit after they were wrongly terminated following Hurricane Katrina.

As taken from The New Orleans Agenda:

“This case began on October 28, 2005, just two months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast when three employees filed a Petition for Injunctive Relief to prevent the Orleans Parish School Board from terminating their employment, claiming a violation of their state-mandated due process and property rights as certified and/or permanent public school employees…The lawsuit was amended to include the State of Louisiana following the State’s takeover of over 100 New Orleans Public Schools effective November 30, 2005. Other “State Defendants” include the Louisiana State Department of education and its Recovery School District, and the Louisiana State Board of Secondary and Elementary Education (BESE). The employees’ initial request for injuctive relief in the form of continued employment with the new state-run school system was denied, but in a September 2007 ruling, Judge Julien recognized other causes of action for monetary relief, including wrongful termination and breach of contract. Subsequently, other terminated employees were added to the lawsuit which now includes principals, teachers, paraprofessionals, central office administrators, secretaries, social workers and other employees who provide instructional, administrative, food services, security, maintenance, transportation and other services.”

Recently, the Professional Administrators of New Orleans Public Schools, Inc. (PANOPSI), AFSA Local 17, won the right to file a class action lawsuit with Judge Julien of the Louisiana Court of Appeals, fourth Circuit.

The Plaintiff’s Lead Counsel, Willie M. Zanders, Sr. stated the following in a recent press release:

All former employees of New Orleans Public Schools and the attorneys who represent them are extremely excited to hear that the States highest court has refused to review the November 12, 2009 ruling of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. This means that the case will continue to move forward as a class action until a trial or court-approved settlement.

We are happy today, but we must not forget the difficult times faced by 8,500 former employees who were wrongfully terminated after the State of Louisiana took control of over 102 New Orleans Public Schools three months after Hurricane Katrina. During the litigation, we discovered that state education officials received over $400 million in federal funds to restart public schools in New Orleans and neighboring school districts. However, when the Orleans Parish School Board refused to replace its pre-Katrina public school superintendent with a New York financial consultant recommended by state education officials, over 102 New Orleans Public Schools were taken over. Federal funds were used to hire new employees from all over America, and out-of-state contractors for food service, transportation, maintenance, school security, and other services.

As we approach the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we continue to have full faith in the judicial process. Thanks to today’s ruling by the States highest court, there is hope that justice will be done for these former employees and their families.