Flyer mailed to every resident of Regional 7 School District (Barkhamsted, Colebrook, New Hartford and Norfolk, CT) on November 4, 2004.

____________________________________________

In 1995, high school teacher Joyce Sperow was suspended two weeks without pay by Regional 7 for the mere mention of the Ten Commandments. She had successfully taught two students that it is wrong to lie. She did so by referencing the Ten Commandments В– a topic brought up by the students themselves.

The School Superintendent, Dr. Robert Fish, sought to have Mrs. Sperow sign a confidential letter, to the effect of admitting that she had acted "against the law" in violation of "church-state issues." There was no school policy defining "church-state issues." Mrs. Sperow refused to thus perjure herself, on the advice of two attorneys.

Dr. Fish then charged Mrs. Sperow with "insubordination," and began a six-year process to fire her, succeeding in 2001 through subsequent charges under the heading of "insubordination." In the July 15, 2004 CHRO Finding, it states: "Fish blew up when she refused to sign" this false agreement, and "FishВ’s attempt to fire her was a vindictive act." The Finding also finds no reasonable basis for the "insubordination" charges.

In an August 3, 2004 meeting at the CHRO in Waterbury, Mrs. Sperow and her advocate, Rev. John C. Rankin (President of the Theological Education Institute in Hartford), met with School Superintendent Dr. Roberta Ohotnicky, Board of Education Chair, Mr. Schuyler Thomson, and their legal counsel, Mr. Mark J. Sommaruga, Esq. (of Sullivan, Schoen, Campane & Connon, LLC in Hartford).

Mrs. Sperow has been fully exonerated, and merely asked for what is due: a) all wages and benefits lost; b) all legal, professional and other expenses incurred; c) ten percent simple interest; d) full salary until her chosen retirement age; and e) full pension thereafter.

Dr. Ohotnicky and Mr. Thomson said no. The injustice continues, and it reopens Mrs. SperowВ’s option to seek damages. Thus, a public hearing is mandated by the CHRO in Hartford if an agreement cannot be reached sooner.

All residents of Regional 7 School District need to contact Dr. Ohotnicky and Mr. Thomson and express their concerns: Regional 7 School District, 100 Battistoni Drive, Winsted, CT 06098; Dr. OhotnickyВ’s office phone is 860/379-1084, and her public email address is: rohotnicky@nwr7.org.

Regional 7 residents may also wish to know how much money the District has spent on legal bills persecuting Mrs. Sperow for these nine years. When Dr. Ohotnicky was asked to provide this information, via the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), her response was: "Most if not all fee entries involving Mrs. Sperow were placed upon Region #7's general bill for services." Dr. Ohotnicky was subsequently asked if it is normal policy not to itemize such fees. She did not reply.

Perhaps this is also a good subject to bring up at the November 9, 2004 Board of Education meeting. A just settlement needs to be reached, where the Board and the Superintendent act in good faith.

A detailed account concerning the CHRO process and Finding can be found at: www.teihartford.com/chro2.htm.