Louise Clarke -- who was quietly placed on administrative leave last October -- says that she was verbally abused and harassed for being a woman in the high-level role, NorthJersey.com reports.
The suit -- in Superior Court earlier this month -- claims that district Business Administrator Nicholas Annitti of asking her if she was having sex with another employee. It also says an administrator referred to Clarke as "that [expletive] woman in the back."
In early August 2018, the Carlstadt-East Rutherford Board of Education voted not to renew Clarke's contract, which expired June 30, 2019, meeting minutes show.
Acting Superintendent Dario Sforza said the board will begin searching for a permanent replacement in the spring.
Sforza released the following statement to Daily Voice:
As you are already aware, on August 8, 2018, pursuant to Mrs. Clarke’s employment contract, the Board of Education voted to non-renew Mrs. Clarke’s contract which expires June 30, 2019.Mrs. Clarke is currently on a paid administrative leave until her contract expires. This claim has been forwarded to our attorney for review. As this is a personnel matter pending litigation, we are not able to comment any further at this time.
Clarke worked as a Spanish teacher at the high school for nearly 35 years before coming its first female superintendent in 2014.
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