Longtime principal sues school district
By Teresa Auch Schultz 648-3120 | tauch@post-trib.com October 24, 2012 9:00PM
Updated: November 26, 2012 7:20AM
A former Portage Township Schools administrator claims in a federal lawsuit the district fired her so it could replace her with younger men.
According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Linda Kuss served as Crisman Elementary principal for more than 20 years but had to take a leave of absence at the start of 2010 because of an injury.
During her absence, the district placed Scott Hufford, then the assistant principal of Fegley Middle School, as interim principal of Crisman.
Kuss was told shortly before she planned to come back to work in April 2010 that the move had become permanent, however, and that she would be moved to head the Portage Adult Education Center.
Kuss did not return to work until January 2011, however, and was told the district would not renew her contract because it was shutting down the adult education program.
Kuss claims she had asked that she be appointed as principal of Fegley, as the former principal was retiring, but the district instead promoted Philip Misecko, who had replaced Hufford as assistant principal at Fegley.
She claims the district fired her because of her sex and age and because she filed for time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act. She is asking for back pay, reinstatement or future pay and other restitution.
