Mediation fails to resolve former Highlands teacher's federal lawsuit against district

Mediation has so far failed to resolve one former Highlands School District employee’s federal lawsuit against the district, while a related case is set to head into its mediation.

A mediation session for teacher Jason Smith’s case was held Thursday, according to court records.

Smith, formerly a fourth-grade teacher at Highlands Elementary School employed by the district since 2000, sued the district last August. He alleges that the district retaliated against him because he took leave in 2018 under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Feeling he was being forced out of his job, Smith resigned in February 2019, according to his complaint.

The district has denied Smith’s allegations.

A one-page report on the mediation session indicates that the case has not been resolved.

“The parties will continue to negotiate with each other and also through the mediator to attempt resolution,” the report states.

Smith’s case was referred to mediation in December with mediator Harry Paras and was ordered to be completed by Feb. 3. The cost of mediation is being split evenly between Smith and the school district.

Heather Bigney’s federal suit against Highlands is also going into mediation, potentially with the same mediator, according to court records.

Attorneys for Bigney and the district are to notify the court of their selection of a mediator by the end of the day Monday, according to court records.

Bigney sued the district in federal court in October, when she resigned as principal of the district’s Early Childhood Center.

Bigney, who was in a relationship with Smith, claims she also was retaliated against for using her leave rights and because she was supportive of Smith.

Highlands also has denied Bigney’s allegations.