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ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

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2010<br />

Citation: McFerren v. Farrell Area School District, 993 A.2d 344, (2010 Pa. Commw.).<br />

Key Facts: McFerren was hired by the Farrell Area School District to reverse the<br />

continued failures of the local high school. The district serves a primarily low income African<br />

American community. McFerren is also an African American. McFerren’s first year proved to be<br />

highly successful. He was promoted to the position of assistant to the superintendent and his<br />

annual review denoted an excellent rating. Richard Rubano, who was the superintendent for<br />

McFerren’s first year, resigned near the end of McFerren’s second year. The district appointed<br />

Carole Borkowski who was directed to collect evidence to support the termination of McFerren.<br />

In June 2007, McFerren lost his assistant to the superintendent title and on November 2,<br />

he attended the first of two pre-termination hearings. On March 1, 2008, McFerren was<br />

suspended without pay for the following reasons pending termination: persistent negligence,<br />

willful failure to comply with school law and policy, willful neglect of duty, and immorality and<br />

intemperance. After hearings took place on five different occasions between March and May of<br />

2008, the board voted to terminate McFerren’s 5-year contract, which had 2 years remaining.<br />

McFerren appealed the decision to the State Secretary of Education, but the ruling of the board<br />

was affirmed by the Secretary. McFerren appealed the Secretary’s decision.<br />

Issues: (1) Did the Secretary err in finding McFerren to have acted immorally? (2) Did<br />

the Secretary err in finding that McFerren was willfully persistent in violating school laws and<br />

policies? (3) Did the Secretary err in finding that McFerren was intemperate and unfit for his<br />

position? (4) Did the Secretary err in finding that McFerren willfully neglected his duties?<br />

246

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