MARPLE SENDS LETTER Former State Schools Superintendent Demands Job Back Or Reasons She Was Fired
Reported by: Associated Press
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Jan. 2, 2013 5:18 PM EST
Updated: Jan. 4, 2013 11:03 AM EST
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
Former state schools superintendent Jorea Marple tells the state Board of Education in a letter that it should either reinstate her or present evidence of something she did that warranted her abrupt termination in November.
The letter was sent Thursday, a day after four prominent attorneys notified the state Department of Education that Marple planned to sue over her firing. Thursday's letter clarified that she planned to sue the school board. The notification is required when suing a state entity.
The Charleston Daily Mail reported that Marple's latest letter demands her job back, a formal finding by the board that it fired her inappropriately and an undisclosed amount of money for wrongful termination.
An education department official has said it would be inappropriate to comment before seeing any litigation.
A longtime educator recently fired as West Virginia's state schools superintendent plans to sue over her dismissal.
Lawyers for Jorea Marple notified the state Department of Education of the pending lawsuit on Wednesday.
The state Board of Education abruptly voted to fire Marple in November, less than two years after unanimously selecting her for the job. Marple's lawyers say her termination was illegal.
The letter provides the 30-day advance notice required by law before a state agency can be sued in most instances. The department declined immediate comment.
Two Boone County parents earlier petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the firing. That filing alleges the board violated the state open meetings law. That case is pending.
James Phares is Marple's successor as superintendent. He took his oath on Wednesday.
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Associated Press
