Federal Investigation
As of March 2011, a separate, but related investigation began at the high school by the United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, which "opened an investigation of a discrimination complaint involving disciplinary actions taken against an Asian American student at Valley Regional High School last fall."
The father of an American born Laotian student is questioning his son's ten-day suspension in September 2010 after he downloaded a flyer on a school computer concerning a rally in support of former Principal Eric Rice. The federal complaint alleges that other students received much milder punishment for similarly distributing rally information. Named in the complaint are Superintendent Ruth Levy, Assistant Superintendent Ian Nevaiser, interim principal Kristina Martineau, and Stacey Lafferty, the Madison lawyer hired in November to investigate the possible gag order.
In the midst of this investigation, the Region 4 Board of Education voted on March 5, 2011 to approve a statement supporting Superintendent Ruth Levy.
The approved resolution stated: "The Region 4 Board of Education formally and publicly acknowledges the ongoing leadership and professionalism displayed by Superintendent Ruth Levy during the 2010-2011 academic year. Given the many challenges and distrations that have emerged during this school year, Dr. Levy has remained steadfast in her commitment to the education and well being of the students of Region 4.”
In late June 2011, the United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights announced that it would drop the investigation due to the father's withdrawal of the complaint against school administrators.
Read more about this topic: Valley Regional High School
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