Woman seeks privacy, wants Wendt hearings closed, records sealed

FAYETTEVILLE — The woman seeking to prevent disclosure of records related to the firing of Superintendent Matthew Wendt asked a judge Tuesday to place the documents under seal and close any hearings to the public in order to protect her privacy.

“Absent an order sealing the record, any records provided or arguments made to the court would be a matter of public record, which would effectively nullify any opportunity to protect the privacy of Jane Doe and for the court to provide the requested relief,” according to the motion.

The woman who said she was the target of sexual harassment by Wendt sued earlier this month to block release of related documents requested under the state’s Freedom of Information Act, saying her personal privacy should outweigh the public’s right to know.

Filed on behalf of “Jane Doe” in Washington County Circuit Court, the lawsuit

contends the records, if released, would be an unwarranted invasion of her privacy. The lawsuit seeks an injunction preventing the Fayetteville School District from releasing the records.

“Plaintiff therefore respectfully requests that the court permit her to provide the records at issue in this cause to the court under seal, and further to close any hearing on the matter, so counsel may openly discuss the records with the court,” according to the motion.

The school district responded to the lawsuit Monday, saying most of the documents should be made public and the Arkansas Attorney General has issued opinions backing that position. The district has said it will not release the requested documents until a judge decides if they should be made public.

Circuit Judge Doug Martin was assigned the case. No hearings have been set.

“The records to be disclosed contain graphic text messages that are exceptionally personal in nature. Such information would subject the plaintiff and her family to embarrassment, harassment, and could impact her employment and relationships with friends,” according to the woman’s lawsuit.

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette requested records related to Wendt’s termination and, according to the lawsuit, other media outlets have also requested the documents. Specifically, material that formed the basis for the School Board’s decision to suspend and then fire Wendt were requested by the newspaper.

The School Board unanimously voted to terminate Wendt’s contract June 18.

The board cited a breach of contract by violating district policy. Wendt violated the policy through his derogatory and offensive conduct and communication with a female subordinate employee, according to Susan Kendall, a lawyer with the Kendall Law Firm in Rogers and the School Board’s legal counsel.