Arizona School District Settles Lawsuit With Ex-School Psychologist

The Tucson Unified School District in Arizona has agreed to pay a former school psychologist $180,000 to settle a retaliation claim.

Rose Hamway filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court in Tucson, claiming she was retaliated against by TUSD for advocating for students with disabilities.

She also filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, alleging TUSD created a hostile environment and ended her employment.

Hamway hasn’t worked for the district since April 2010 when her contract wasn’t renewed.

The Arizona Daily Star reported that in addition to the payment to Hamway, TUSD will take corrective action. That will include redistributing to TUSD staff and administrators its policy for complaints of retaliation and provide personnel training about the district’s discrimination grievance procedure.