School district appeals ruling on teacher’s firing

MADISON, Ind. (AP) – A southern Indiana school district is appealing a federal court ruling that it violated a teacher’s rights when he was fired in 2013.

A federal judge ruled last month that former Dupont Elementary School teacher Joseph Elliott’s termination under a provision of Indiana’s 2011 teacher accountability law violated his rights.

That law allows schools to consider performance rather than seniority in making staffing decisions.

Elliott and five other teachers were terminated in 2013 after school officials in the Ohio River city of Madison determined which teachers would have their contracts canceled due to a staff reduction caused by the closing of two elementary schools.

The Madison Courier reports the Madison Consolidated School Board voted 5-0 Wednesday to appeal the judge’s decision.