SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Willamette Education Service District has settled a retaliation lawsuit for $45,000 after a teacher claimed she was laid off for raising concerns about safety and treatment of children with disabilities.
Maggie Vogenbeck taught for 11 years at Lord High School, which is at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn. The state pays the Willamette service district to run the correction school.
Vogenbeck filed the lawsuit against the district and two supervisors in February, claiming state and federal discrimination, whistleblower retaliation and wrongful discharge. She had asked for as much as $500,000.
Besides the settlement, the district rehired Vogenbeck with back pay, then allowed her to retire.