New Mexico School District Settles Suit for $800K with Former Employee

Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico will pay $800,000 to its former chief financial officer to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that claimed the former superintendent placed him on paid leave for questioning district audits.

The Albuquerque Journal reports Don Moya filed the suit in 2015 after former Superintendent Luis Valentino placed him on leave in August over the disagreements on the proposed departmental audits.

Valentino resigned later that month.

In the settlement filed last month, the school district will pay out $350,000 and the district’s insurance will cover the rest. Moya also received a letter of reference from current Superintendent Raquel Reedy.

Moya’s attorney Kate Ferlic and the district issued a joint statement, saying they are ready to “put the events of 2015 behind them and are moving forward in a positive direction.”