No action taken on Sue Goodsite case

NORWALK — The Norwalk school board took no action Wednesday after an executive session about the lawsuit involving retired employee Sue Goodsite, who has accused the district of gender and age discrimination. Board members spoke to insurance attorney David Hirt by phone. He couldn't be reached for comment Thursday by the Reflector. The Reflector has learned the board and Hirt discussed what options were available about the case and the executive session lasted about 20 minutes. Superintendent George Fisk declined to comment. Goodsite was the director of curriculum and instruction for five years before her retirement in 2015. She held that position while Will Folger was the interim superintendent for one year before the board hired Fisk. From 1978 through 2006, Goodsite was a home economics teacher. She moved up to an assistant principal and then principal. In 2006, she was promoted from Pleasant Elementary principal — a job she held for 13 years — to the district director of curriculum and instruction. In October 2016, Goodsite filed a lawsuit against the district, alleging she was the subject of gender and age discrimination when she applied for various jobs, including superintendent and assistant superintendent. She filed it in the U.S. District Court for the northern division of Ohio. Goodsite, in her lawsuit, alleges male candidates were chosen for district positions to which she applied, and was denied the superintendent position twice. In 2009, the board posted the vacant assistant superintendent position. According to the lawsuit, Wayne Babcanec, the superintendent at the time, allegedly "had previously promised (it) to Goodsite," who claimed Doug Crooks was given the job despite allegedly being "substantially less qualified." Also, in early April 2015, Goodsite filed a charge of discrimination based on sex, age discrimination and retaliation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.