UPDATE:
Many people are sounding off Wednesday night about the $2.3 million settlement given to Harrisburg's former School Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants.
They sued for wrongful termination back in 2010
2.3 million dollars, some people say that's a lot of money, money that a cash-strapped city and cash-strapped school district can't afford to pay.
Tuesday night, the Harrisburg School Board approved a $2.3-million settlement which will be paid to former School Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants.
They filed the lawsuit back in October of 2010 after they said they were wrongfully fired. Some people at a basketball game at Harrisburg High said they have mixed feelings about the settlement and Kohn's termination.
“i don't think he was wrongfully fired,” John Williams told us. “I didn't like the job he was doing.”
“I know that the Harrisburg School District is strapped for money, so it seems like an extremely large payout, but I believe he did have a contract and terms weren't followed,” addressed Tom Connolly. “I'm kind of torn, I'd hate to see him get the money, but if he's owed the money, then I guess he's entitled to it.”
“Well, I think he deserved it, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place, to get this situation, to create this, fire somebody who had a contract,” Mike McCoy stated.
One twitter follower said, “Soooo, in other words, it cost way more to fire Kuhn than to honor a valid contract? Typical LT mismanagement.”
Kohn, who was under contract when fired, strongly believed he shouldn't have been let go, because he said he'd improved overall student performance during his nine-years with the district.
CBS 21 News contacted Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson for comment but she hasn't gotten back to us yet.
___________________________________________
The case has finally closed, on a lawsuit of wrongful termination, filed by former Harrisburg Schools Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two others in 2010.
Tuesday night, the school board formally accepted and signed the terms of the several million dollar settlement. Sources tell CBS 21, that Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants will get $2.3 million in the settlement.
In October of 2010, Harrisburg School District Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants, Julie Botel and Rebecca Hostetler, filed a lawsuit saying they were wrongfully terminated.
The people who let them go, were part of a " Board of Control" organized by then newly elected Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson. In fact, one of her campaign promises was to fire Kohn.
The City had controlled the School district from 2000 up through 2010. Members of the former "Board of Control", the School Board, Thompson and the District's legal advisers are all defendants in the lawsuit.
Kohn strongly believed he shouldn't have been fired, because he'd improved overall student performance during his nine years with the district.
CBS 21 News contacted Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson for comment but she hasn't gotten back to us.
Many people are sounding off Wednesday night about the $2.3 million settlement given to Harrisburg's former School Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants.
They sued for wrongful termination back in 2010
2.3 million dollars, some people say that's a lot of money, money that a cash-strapped city and cash-strapped school district can't afford to pay.
Tuesday night, the Harrisburg School Board approved a $2.3-million settlement which will be paid to former School Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants.
They filed the lawsuit back in October of 2010 after they said they were wrongfully fired. Some people at a basketball game at Harrisburg High said they have mixed feelings about the settlement and Kohn's termination.
“i don't think he was wrongfully fired,” John Williams told us. “I didn't like the job he was doing.”
“I know that the Harrisburg School District is strapped for money, so it seems like an extremely large payout, but I believe he did have a contract and terms weren't followed,” addressed Tom Connolly. “I'm kind of torn, I'd hate to see him get the money, but if he's owed the money, then I guess he's entitled to it.”
“Well, I think he deserved it, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place, to get this situation, to create this, fire somebody who had a contract,” Mike McCoy stated.
One twitter follower said, “Soooo, in other words, it cost way more to fire Kuhn than to honor a valid contract? Typical LT mismanagement.”
Kohn, who was under contract when fired, strongly believed he shouldn't have been let go, because he said he'd improved overall student performance during his nine-years with the district.
CBS 21 News contacted Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson for comment but she hasn't gotten back to us yet.
___________________________________________
The case has finally closed, on a lawsuit of wrongful termination, filed by former Harrisburg Schools Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two others in 2010.
Tuesday night, the school board formally accepted and signed the terms of the several million dollar settlement. Sources tell CBS 21, that Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants will get $2.3 million in the settlement.
In October of 2010, Harrisburg School District Superintendent Gerald Kohn and two of his former assistants, Julie Botel and Rebecca Hostetler, filed a lawsuit saying they were wrongfully terminated.
The people who let them go, were part of a " Board of Control" organized by then newly elected Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson. In fact, one of her campaign promises was to fire Kohn.
The City had controlled the School district from 2000 up through 2010. Members of the former "Board of Control", the School Board, Thompson and the District's legal advisers are all defendants in the lawsuit.
Kohn strongly believed he shouldn't have been fired, because he'd improved overall student performance during his nine years with the district.
CBS 21 News contacted Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson for comment but she hasn't gotten back to us.