May 22, 2017 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – The Observer-Reporter has filed an appeal with the state Office of Open Records after Central Greene School District last week declined to provide the newspaper with details of the federal lawsuit settlement it reached with a special education teacher who claimed she was coerced into a sexual relationship with the former high school principal.

The school district denied the request Thursday when it did not formally respond to the request made by the newspaper April 17.

Superintendent Brian Uplinger requested April 18 the school district’s solicitor, Kirk King, be given 30 days to review the request to formulate a response. King notified the newspaper Thursday afternoon in a phone call that the district was not responding in writing to the request, meaning it was “deemed denied.”

The newspaper filed an appeal Monday with the Office of Open Records asserting the settlement should be released because it involves public money paid out through the district’s insurance provider. The Observer-Reporter is requesting all details of the settlement, including its monetary terms and the date it was approved.

The former special education teacher, Danielle Golden of Dunbar, filed the lawsuit last July against the district and former Waynesburg Central High School principal David Mason, claiming he had engaged in “unwanted and unsolicited” sexual conduct with her while at the school. The lawsuit claimed the school district had knowledge of Mason’s past conduct but allowed him to continue supervising her while taking no disciplinary action against him.

Mason worked in the district for nearly 15 years before he was suspended Aug. 21, 2015, for unspecified reasons. The school board voted to fire him during a special meeting Dec. 5, 2015.

Golden’s attorney, Samuel Cordes of Pittsburgh, said in February the case was resolved following negotiations with a court mediator. Online federal court documents show mediation was held Feb. 1, and a document filed Feb. 16 states the case was settled.