District Agrees to $100,000 Settlement with Teacher

The Edina school district has agreed to terms on the resignation of a longtime teacher who was reportedly injured during a classroom altercation with a student in 2009 and has since been on administrative leave.

Deborah York, who has not entered the classroom for more than a year, voluntarily resigned from the district this week for a $100,000 settlement from the district. An agreement approved by the Edina Board of Education this week cited "physical reasons" for her resignation.

York, 59, taught first-grade at Countryside Elementary School for 13 years before going on sick leave in November 2009. York was reportedly injured during a physical altercation with a first-grader at the time. She was transferred to Concord Elementary last summer, though she never actually returned to the classroom.

In addition to the one-time payment of $100,00, the district agreed to provide York with severance and retiree health insurance benefits — as outlined in the 2009-2011 teachers' union contract — until she is 65.

In return, York releases the district and all associated parties from liability for "any and all damages, actions or claims" related to anything occurring prior to the settlement.

Superintendent Ric Dressen was somewhat mum on the settlement during the board's regular meeting, simply saying it was in the best interest of all parties involved.

"Our attorneys came together and through the mediation process were were able to reach this agreement," said Dressen, who wouldn't commend further, citing terms of the agreement.

After allegedly communicating directly with student's parents about the incident in the classroom, York was placed on administrative leave while the district hired a third party to investigate whether she had violated state privacy laws. That investigation ultimately found no cause for disciplinary action.

Both parties entered into a mediation session on Jan. 27, 2011, where they were able to agree to the terms of York's resignation.

The approved settlement includes a non-disparagement agreement, stating neither York nor the district can "make any statement, written or oral, to any third party, which negatively characterizes the other with regard to any action or inaction" related to the incident. It requires the district to provide very basic information to any third party asking about York's employment and mandates the district tell anyone inquiring about her resignation to attribute it to "physical reasons."

Also as part of the settlement, York also releases pending claims with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.