A meeting Wednesday between City Schools of Decatur Superintendent David Dude and fired clerk Susan Riley and her attorney has finally revealed the reasons for her termination.
The reasons, according to Riley’s attorney David Hughes: She took home overnight her district-issued iPad, which she had checked out; she was not following her new job plan; she complained about her treatment by co-workers in the media center and then talked to others about filing a complaint.
It is doubtful those reasons will placate the hundreds of Decatur residents who have called upon Dude to reinstate her. After firing her Friday and setting off a firestorm of anger in the city, Dude announced Sunday he was placing Riley on paid leave and seeking an outside review of the case.
Within 48 hours of the news of Riley’s firing, former students organized a rally outside Decatur High. Hundreds of parents and students bombarded Dude with emails and teachers dressed in black and lined up outside the high school in silent protest.
But no one knew why Riley, a 19-year veteran of Decatur, was fired. As an at-will employee, Riley did not have to be told why she was fired, said Dude Monday to the AJC.
However, Dude and the school district’s attorney met with Riley and her attorney Wednesday and outlined the case against her.
“The reason given yesterday by CSD for Riley’s initial termination is not credible. Instead, it appears to be a mere pretext to cover for the harassment she experienced. Now that Dude has suspended the termination, Riley is hopeful that the administration will do the right thing and restore her to her former job, with the reclassification she was promised,” said attorney Hughes.
To read more about this saga and the full list of Riley's alleged offenses, go to the AJC Get Schooled blog on MyAJC.com
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