On October 16, 2006 the Greenwood School Board accepted the recommendation of Superintendent Kay Johnson to terminate special education teacher Barbra Leonard on the grounds of harassment.
County Circuit Judge Mike Fitzhugh ruled that the school district was in breach of contract when they fired Leonard without paying her the salary set forth in her contract.
According to the court, Leonard met the burden of proof and should receive full benefits outlined in her contract which total $39,831 and now the state Court of Appeals has agreed.
Leonard was paid for three months of the contract. The school district has been ordered to pay the remaining 29,973.
Leonard was initially suspended with pay on August 2 for allegedly make harassing phone calls to school district employees, Pat and Terri Weaver.
The Weavers filed police reports on May 9 and 29 of 2006 in regards to the phone calls.
According to the reports, the Weavers had received calls since January from what sounded like a young woman who; breathed heavily into the phone, cursed and insulted the Weavers and played offensive music.
On July 27 the Prosecuting Attorney's office sent a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard notifying them that a complaint had been made and that the phone number that had been calling and harassing them at all hours had come back in their name.
Leonard was terminated at a closed-door session of the Oct. 16 meeting.
Leonard claims that a female relative made the calls that was staying with the Leonard's at that time and that she has confessed to making calls to the Weaver's house.
