Close Vote on Lawsuit
by Ben Hogwood

HYDE PARK - At a school board meeting held Tuesday, August 3, in the
Lamoille Union library, a Lamoille Union school board director proposed
a motion to sue the law firms who represented the board in the Wayne
Nadeau arbitration.
David Whitcomb, of Eden, made the motion that the school board authorize
the administration to file a lawsuit against two law firms, Downs,
Rachlin & Martin, and Wells, Haug and Leopold, for $1 million each.
Whitcomb said the firm of Downs, Rachlin & Martin was representing
Fletcher Allen Health Care at the same time they were representing the
school board. FAHC recently sued the firm for not giving them their full
attention.
"I feel...that we might have not got their full attention," he said. In
particular, Whitcomb said the firm did not fully describe the
consequences the board's actions could have regarding Nadeau.
Veteran social studies teacher Nadeau was terminated by the board due to
allegations from students, regarding a 1996 trip to Russia. Students
alleged Nadeau drank in front of them and had inappropriate contact with
two females on the trip, one Russian and one Lamoille student. That
termination went to arbitration. Roberta Golick, arbitrator in the case,
found that the board did not have sufficient cause to discharge Nadeau.
Consequently the board must pay Nadeau his back pay and give him his job
back, should he so decide.
Whitcomb's vote to sue was seconded by director Pam Jaspersohn. The vote
was split evenly by the board, with four in favor and four against.
Peter Ingvoldstadt, board chair, broke the tie, deciding not to sue the
law firms.
Prior to Whitcomb's motion, the school board had gone into executive
session to discuss Nadeau and the board's requirement that he be
reinstated, with back pay, in the school. The session lasted
approximately 47 minutes and upon conclusion, Ingvoldstadt said the LNSU
Superintendent Terry Bailey had mailed a contract to Nadeau on July 26.
Nadeau has not yet responded and has until August 24 to do so.
Past school board meetings concerning Nadeau have garnished more public
attention, however this time only three people (other than media
representatives) were in attendance.