Jefferson City Schools appeals ruling to rehire employee
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Jefferson City Schools is appealing to the Missouri Supreme Court after an appeals court ruled last month that the district must rehire an administrator accused of putting private student information at risk.
The district filed an application on Wednesday to move the school district's case against instructional technology coordinator Tammy Ferry to the supreme court, according to online court records.
The school district's attorneys argue in the court document the appellate court misapplied the law when it upheld Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem's ruling that it must rehire Ferry.
Jefferson City School Board members claim Ferry violated district policies and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act when she moved documents containing private student information to a private digital drive. She was suspended with pay in February 2019 and subsequently fired months later in July.
Documents allege the appellate court incorrectly applied a de novo standard of review in solely looking into the issue of moving the personal files.
"Respondent’s framing of the issue was erroneous from the outset since the board’s decision was supported by undisputed evidence in the record that Respondent committed numerous willful and persistent violations of board policy," attornies said the document. It continued, "Had the court properly considered the whole record – as it is obliged to do – the court would have found that the board’s decision was proper."
Beetem ruled in March that Ferry's actions did not disclose any private information to a third party. He ordered the district to give Ferry back pay and cover her court expenses.
