Post: PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS

Posted by T BRODERSEN on 12/30/05

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Posted on Fri, Dec. 30, 2005
Ex-administrator sues over CMS dismissalSays CMS retaliated
due to her claims of errors, discriminationANN DOSS
HELMSahelms@charlotteobserver.comA former Independence High
assistant principal is suing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
in federal court, saying she was fired after
reporting "wrongdoing and financial improprieties" and
complaining of gender discrimination.
Randi Imbriano, who was fired in May after 11 years with
CMS, claims her dismissal was retaliation for her
complaints about favoritism, misuse of school money and
property, and improper tallying of enrollment.
Attorneys for CMS have denied Imbriano's allegations of
discrimination and retaliation, saying she was terminated
for "legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons."
Imbriano had filed a gender discrimination complaint with
the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in
April, then added retaliation after her firing. The EEOC
dismissed her complaint in July.
The lawsuit continues controversy that has surrounded
Independence, on the Charlotte-Mint Hill border, for more
than a year. In December 2004, CMS officials acknowledged
they were investigating reports that the school's 2004-05
enrollment was inflated.
Then-Principal Rick Hinson blamed enrollment problems on
computer glitches and honest mistakes.
In January, Hinson said he had filed retirement papers but
would stay until the end of the school year. A few days
later, CMS officials announced that Independence's tally of
2,536 students included 70 who were not there. They said
they found no evidence of intentional padding, and insisted
no one was disciplined in connection with the error. But
then-Superintendent James Pughsley notified the school
board that Hinson's work at Independence "was ended as of 4
p.m. today."
In the federal suit, filed in October, Imbriano, who became
one of Hinson's assistant principals in 2002, says she
reported enrollment padding and other problems to Hinson,
and later to top CMS administrators. The suit says Hinson
demoted and humiliated her, and district officials harassed
her and threatened her with firing "if she reported the
improprieties to anyone outside CMS."
Imbriano's suit also claims that technology bought with
money for educating students with disabilities was used by
the school's administration, that computers were thrown in
the garbage and that Hinson favored male employees.
Neither she nor Hinson could be reached for comment
Thursday.
The CMS response acknowledges that Imbriano, "as well as
other employees, shared information with Board
representatives about activities occurring at Independence
High School."
Attorney Trevor Johnston, who is representing CMS, said
Thursday he could not comment further.
Imbriano is asking the court to reinstate her and award her
lost wages

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PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS, 12/30/05, by T BRODERSEN.