Durant (Iowa) board fully reinstates principal

From The Quad City Times: Acting to avoid a contempt citation and possible jail sentences, the Durant (Iowa) school board has fully reinstated Monica Rouse as the sole principal of Durant High School. Rouse was removed from her job three years ago, but several court rulings determined that the board acted improperly. A court ordered the district earlier this year to reinstate her, but her duties were restricted, and she was isolated from students and staff. A judge threatened the board members with jail time if they didn't fully reinstate Rouse.

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From The Quad City Times: Members of the Durant (Iowa) School Board have been threatened with a 30-day jail term for refusing to fully reinstate a high school principal who was removed from her job three years ago. Judge Mark Smith has ruled that board members violated a court order in how they restored Monica Rouse to her old job as Durant High School principal. The judge says school board members could avoid the contempt ruling by giving Rouse “all of her duties, privileges, authority and rights that she enjoyed prior to her termination.” Rouse was escorted off the school grounds Sept. 17, 2009, but successfully challenged her termination in court and returned to work April 23. District officials conceded in court that after Rouse returned as principal she wasn’t allowed access to student records, to her old computer or to the entire school facility for several months. Rouse testified that district leaders directed her not to interact with students or staff and denied her an office with the other administrators.