Document: Iowa School District Settled Discrimination Suit for More Than $170K

December 30, 2019

Newly released documents show that Mason City Schools in Iowa settled a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by a former official for more $170,000.

The district issued its former human resources director Jodie Anderson $31,500 in wage differential payment and $73,500 for damages, the Globe-Gazette reported. Another $70,000 was issued to cover court and attorneys’ fees. The district denies any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Anderson filed the lawsuit in July 2018, alleging that men employed by the district were being paid more than women for the same categories of work when she examined salary structures in 2015.

The settlement was announced ahead of a trial that had been scheduled to begin Jan. 7, but the officials did not disclose the amount of the settlement. The amount was disclosed on Dec. 27 in documents obtained by the non-profit Iowa Freedom of Information Council under state freedom of information laws.

Anderson’s lawsuit had said that despite receiving “outstanding reviews and received compliments” for her job performance, Anderson’s wage was frozen at $87,550.

The school district argued in a response that Anderson received more than $7,500 in excess pay without board approval, confirmed by a state re-audit.

Topics Lawsuits Education Iowa

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