Houston ISD settles lawsuit with ex-principal for $550,000

The Houston school board agreed Thursday to pay $550,000 to settle a lawsuit with a former principal accused of overseeing test cheating seven years ago.

Mable Caleb, the former principal of Key Middle School and Kashmere High School on the city's north side, sued the Houston Independent School District in federal court after the board fired her in 2010. The school board voted 6-0 to approve the settlement without commenting on it. Trustees Anna Eastman, Greg Meyers and Manuel Rodriguez Jr., the board president, were absent from the meeting.

The termination of the popular principal followed an investigative report, commissioned by then-Superintendent Terry Grier, that alleged cheating took place at Key Middle School on state exams given to students in 2009. The investigation, done by a local law firm, also alleged improper fundraising activities that profited off students and nepotism in hiring took place at the school.

Caleb denied the allegations and submitted a letter indicating her intent to retire before the school board fired her anyway. Grier's predecessor, Abelardo Saavedra, previously had moved to demote Caleb after separate allegations of test cheating, but the board at that time overruled him.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/HISD-settles-lawsuit-with-ex-principal-for-9240295.php