Sep 23, 2015 3 min read

Two former Fort Cherry School District officials have been dismissed from a lawsuit filed by a school employee who is seeking almost $20,000 in college tuition reimbursement she claims she was promised.

Lindsay Snatchko filed the lawsuit in Washington County Court in 2013 against then-business manager Paul Sroka, then-superintendent Robert Dinnen and the district. Dinnen retired at the end of the 2014-15 school year. Sroka left the district at the end of 2014, but remained on the payroll. His official job status is unknown, as Superintendent Jill Jacoby directed questions to district solicitor John Smart, who declined to comment. In January, Sroka was working part time for Jeannette City School District as its business manager and is listed as such on the district’s website.

In an order dated Sept. 10, Washington County Judge Katherine Emery removed Sroka and Dinnen from the lawsuit, stating the claims against the two men were “equivalent to claims against the district itself.” The lawsuit against the district continues.

Snatchko was employed by the district in October 2008 as an accounts payable secretary, and claims she accepted the position only because Sroka promised her that full tuition reimbursement was a part of the compensation package. Snatchko’s starting salary was listed as $25,000, according to court documents.

Snatchko did not sign an employment contract prior to starting her position and was not provided an employee handbook or similar documents detailing her compensation package, she says.

Snatchko alleges that in August 2009 Sroka began to pursue her romantically and that they exchanged calls, texts and emails. She claims he kissed her about five times on school property. Snatchko said she stopped their interactions the next month, and alleges that Sroka began to harass her and even attempted to get her fired.

Snatchko eventually went to Dinnen to complain about the “highly inappropriate” relationship, her lawsuit said. Snatchko filed an official harassment complaint in April 2013.

In August 2010, Snatchko began to pursue her bachelor’s degree from Kaplan University. She said she approached Sroka about being reimbursed, and he informed her that the tuition reimbursement structure had changed and denied her reimbursement. According to the lawsuit, Snatchko took the matter to Dinnen, who said Sroka did not have the authority to offer full tuition reimbursement. Dinnen informed Snatchko that the district could pay for 12 credits annually, the suit states.

Other Fort Cherry employees have received full tuition reimbursement, Snatchko claims.

Sroka has denied that he offered Snatchko full tuition reimbursement and denied that the pair were romantically involved, court documents said.

Snatchko also is seeking $50,000 in damages and legal fees.

It is unclear whether Snatchko is still employed by the district. Snatchko and her attorney, Renee Colbert, did not return calls seeking comment, and Smart declined to comment. School board President Tina Cottrill did not return an email seeking comment.