Settlement Amount and Terms Between North Penn and Former Administrator Released Following Right to Know Request

Tony Di Domizio | North Penn Now•

A protester holds up a Black Lives Matter sign during a demonstration on Main Street in Lansdale on June 20, 2020.

The North Penn School Board on Thursday night unanimously approved a $750,000 settlement with former administrator Ashley B. Bennett, with the school district paying $150,000 and its insurer paying $600,000, but it does not admit that it violated her rights whatsoever, according to terms of the settlement released following a Right-to-Know request filed by The Reporter with the district.

The settlement amount was not revealed at the board meeting.

Bennett alleged she was forced to resign after making Facebook comments criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement. She filed a federal lawsuit against the district after her alleged forced resignation in 2020.

Per the settlement terms, as reported by Dan Sokil at The Reporter, both sides have closed the case and agreed to the following:

• Bennett dismisses all claims against the district, the school board members and several administrators

• Bennett agrees not to apply to work at North Penn School District for 10 years

• The district does not admit that it violated any of Bennett’s rights whatsoever

• The $750,000 will be paid to Bennett’s counsel Francis Maloify

• North Penn School District will remove all disciplinary documentation from Bennett’s personnel file

• North Penn School District will provide a neutral reference with her years of employment

• The district admits Bennett achieved proficient performance ratings while at the district

• The district admits Bennett’s supervisor considered her to be knowledgeable of special education law and practices

• The agreement is being entered to avoid costs, uncertainty, delay and expense of litigation

At least two district residents spoke up at public comment about the settlement on the diversity of opinion on the board, per the report. Resident Bill Patchell said the board “represents nine people, all of the same thinking” and her case represents “suppression of free speech.”

“(The school board) put her under interrogation, and almost forced her to ‘Sign, sign, sign.’ Yes, they were wrong, and that is why they have this settlement,” Patchell said in the article.

Resident Jason Lanier said there was “no diversity of thought” on the board.