Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for July 18, 2008 RETALIATION IN MARION?

Former Marion teacher sues school district

By John D. Homan, The Southern

MARION - Claiming her First Amendment free speech and free association rights were violated, former Marion Unit 2 School District music instructor Beth Ann Butler has filed a lawsuit in federal court against her former employer.

Butler, the daughter of longtime Marion Mayor Bob Butler, contends her notification of dismissal in March was largely because of her and her father's public opposition to a 1-percent sales tax increase in Williamson County.

Marion attorney Ron Osman is representing Beth Ann Butler.

The school district is represented by Merry Rhoads of Edwardsville.

The district has not yet filed its response to Butler's complaint.

Reached at his office Thursday, Superintendent Wade Hudgens declined comment. Efforts to reach Rhoads were unsuccessful.

The sales tax, which passed by referendum in February, provides money for the five school districts in the county. The money is earmarked for construction projects.

The Marion school district supported the tax increase, as did the other school districts.

Beth Ann Butler contends Hudgens made several public statements in favor of the sales tax increase and sent several e-mails through the district's e-mail system to teachers and other employees imploring them to support, advocate for and vote in favor of the tax.

The teachers' union, she said, also sent e-mails to its members and others encouraging them to do the same.

Butler said she was not included in the e-mails because of her and her father's opposition to the tax, and she says the mayor's opposition to the tax was noted in the e-mails.

Butler said her dismissal came a little more than a month after the referendum passed.

By law, school districts are required to give employees at least 60 days notice of termination.

A non-tenured teacher, Butler said she received five evaluations of "satisfactory" and one "excellent" while employed at Marion Unit 2.

Butler is seeking pay, damages, costs and fees.