Fired teacher gets $750,000 payment

Settlement reached in Texarkana

TEXARKANA — A former teacher who successfully sued the Texarkana School District has agreed to a $750,000 payout, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request show.

Andrea Johnson and the school district reached the settlement in March after finalizing mediation, the documents said.

In September 2011, Johnson, who is black, won a civil case against the district for racial discrimination and retaliation.

Johnson, her lawyer, John Walker, School Board President Carol Dalby, Superintendent Russell Sapaugh and the district’s counsel signed the settlement March 10.

According to the agreement, the two parties, including Johnson’s husband, Ron, are not to comment publicly about the matter.

In February, a federal judge denied the district’s motion for judgment in the case of Johnson.

Johnson was discharged after an April 2009 board hearing upheld Sapaugh’s recommendation to fire her over accusations that she gave answers to an end-of-semester math test to special-needs students at Arkansas High School in December 2008.

Johnson said other teachers had access to the test but were never suspected of providing the purported cheat sheet.

During the trial, Johnson asked for $750,000 to make up for lost pay and damages. An all-white jury of three men and eight women awarded $500,000 and added that she was entitled to return to her job.

According to the settlement agreement, $425,000 will go toward damages, fees and court costs, and $325,000 will be paid to Johnson after taxes.

Johnson also agreed to resign, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009.

If Johnson decides to return to her profession of 25 years, the district will provide a neutral employment reference confirming only the dates of her employment. She cannot reapply at Texarkana School District.

According to the document, the school district will pay all mediation costs.