OSWEGO, NY – The Oswego City School District and Dean Goewey announced today (Aug. 1) that an agreement to resolve the disciplinary proceeding that began last November had been signed late Thursday.
The school board met in a special session today to approve the deal. The vote was 5-1-1. Board member Dan Hoefer was absent; Fred Maxon cast the lone nay vote.
Both sides released a brief, three paragraph statement earlier this afternoon.
The specific terms of the agreement at subject to a confidentiality provision, but both parties acknowledge that it was in the best interests of everyone to settle the matter now.
“It has been a long two years. I have learned a lot about educational leadership,” the former Riley Elementary School principal said in the statement. “I am pleased to be returning to work. If any of my action or words offended anyone, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize.”
In the prepared statement distributed after today’s special board of education meeting, board president Dave White said, “Dean Goewey has demonstrated that he has all of the required tools to be a strong and effective educational leader. He has accepted responsibility for his actions and apologized, and it is time to move forward.”
In November 2006, Goewey was placed on administrative leave, with pay, in the wake of sexual harassment complaints being lodged against him.
He filed a civil suit against the district, forcing a public 3020-a disciplinary hearing, which began a year later.
The district has spent an estimated $315,000 in salaries and legal fees since the start of the hearing about eight months ago.
According to the most recent survey conducted by the NYS School Board Association, a 3020-a proceeding addressing charges of pedagogical incompetence can last 830 days and cost districts an average of $313,000.
At its meeting today, the board resolved that the case “be deemed to be resolved and the District shall inform the State Education Department that the charges are being withdrawn with prejudice. The said charges shall be expunged from Mr. Goewey’s personnel file.”
A fine of $10,000 shall be assessed against Goewey, which shall be collected from his accrued and/or future compensation other than sick or personal leave accruals.
A letter of reprimand will also be placed in his personnel file that will address his performance and what the district’s expectations are in the future.
He has the right to request removal of the letter from the file on or after June 30, 2009. It will be the superintendent of schools’ decision whether to remove the letter.
Goewey must also participate in and successfully complete management training and diversity training.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
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i guess i am surprised that we aren’t paying him extra for “damages” and even more surprised that HE is paying a fee.
and while it has cost $315,000 for these legal fees also they have spent almost as much as that for Goewey’s replacement. Goewey got paid to sit home and his replacement got paid as well.Also since all 7 schools already have principals I highly doubt they will boot one out to make room for Goewey. So the school will probably just get an extra principal so once again an extra $100,000 per year of wasted tax dollars for an exorbitant number of principals. I am sure OHS needs a fifth principal maybe Goewey can go work there.
Good to see Maxon is still remaining loyal to the Fischer Tiballi cause.
And good to see that David Fischer’s personal vendettas have cost the taxpayers so much. Fischer owes us an apology and also should be forced to pay for this out of his pocket!