Exactly one year after the board of education had an executive session announcing the termination of contracts for William Gilhaus, Christy Ziegler and Lana Gerber, Gilhaus filed a lawsuit against USD 231, superintendent Pam Stranathan and four school board members.

The Board members Tresa Boden, Brad Chandler, Mary Nelson, Rob Shippy and superintendent Pam Stranathan are being sued for their individual or personal capacity for intentionally and maliciously conspiring to deprive the plaintiff of their constitutional rights according to the suit.

The purpose of the suit is to seek the plaintiff’s back payments plus interest after unlawful termination of their contracts.

The lawsuit notes that Gilhaus’ contract  allowed for termination if the conditions of a 30-day written notice of contractual breach and that a reasonable opportunity to fix the breach must be provided.

According to the court filing none of these conditions were met after an executive meeting was held February 24 where the vote was held 4-3 to terminate the contracts of Gilhaus, Ziegler and Gerber the same evening Pam Stranathan was announced the interim superintendent.