Two Freehold Regional High School District employees who had filed civil suits against the district have settled their suits and left the school system. On April 15, the Board of Education accepted the resignation of Dr. Louis Talarico, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Talarico took a leave of absence with pay beginning April 16. The leave of absence will run through June 30 and Talarico will resign that day.
The board also agreed to settle a suit Talarico filed against the district.
Attorney Natanya Simon, representing the board, said some portions of the agreement will remain confidential as agreed upon with Talarico’s attorney Michael Schottland. The court felt that confidentiality was appropriate regarding certain terms and conditions of the agreement, Simon said.
All pending lawsuits by Talarico against the FRHSD, with regard to all issues that were raised, will be dismissed.
Talarico and Superintendent of Schools James Wasser had been at odds on a number of issues over the past several years. One issue concerned a change in Tala-rico’s title from deputy superintendent to assistant superintendent.
"The contribution by the board will be $50,000 total," said Simon. "As the board attorney handling the matter, I believe it is very reasonable under the circumstances."
Simon said there will be additional insurance payments.
"It will be at least equal to (the board’s contribution)," she explained.
Talarico’s departure from the district last month followed the January resignation of FRHSD Data Processing Manager Donald DeGroot.
In March, 2000, DeGroot filed charges of harassment and disorderly conduct against Wasser. In May 2000, Wasser was found innocent of those charges following a trial in Englishtown municipal court.
DeGroot later filed suit under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, a New Jersey statute.
On Jan. 14, DeGroot resigned from his position after a settlement agreement was made between DeGroot and the district regarding the litigation. It was agreed at that time that any and all claims that were made by DeGroot would be dismissed.
Attorney Frank Cook, representing Wasser and Dr. Patricia Emmerman, assistant superintendent, said, "It really was a confidential settlement agreement. I can’t disclose the terms."
Cook said he did not represent the school board in that case.
"In the DeGroot case, my clients were stipulated out of the case," the attorney said. "They received stipulations of dismissal, dismissing them from the case before the case was even settled."
Schottland, who represented Talarico and DeGroot, did not respond to messages left by Greater Media Newspapers.
FRHSD spokeswoman Teresa Rafferty said Talarico’s position is expected to be filled on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found. Following a recent reorganization of the district, the position held by DeGroot has been eliminated, Rafferty said.
(Students from Howell attend the six schools in the Freehold Regional High School District.)