The superintendent for the Norman County East (Minn.) School District is no longer a defendant in a lawsuit filed by the teacher's union.
A Norman County District Court judge dismissed Superintendent Larry Swanson from the lawsuit earlier this month, stating a superintendent isn't a member of the School Board for purposes of the state's open meeting law.
In December, the teacher's union filed a lawsuit Swanson and the School Board, claiming they held at least four illegal meetings.
"I was pleased that the Court found what it did and am glad we can move on to the more substantive parts of the case," said James Andreen, the school district's attorney.
Bill Garber, the attorney for the teachers' union, said the lawsuit against the board will proceed.
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"We don't view the lawsuit as changing at all except for there being one less defendant," he said. "The lawsuit will go forward."
Education Minnesota-Norman County East, which represents the 45 public teachers in the district, seeks the removal of current board members Christine Dalby, Ronnie Pinske, Mark Seeger, Perry Skaurud, Elena Thronson and Nancy Vigum. The action, which also names former board members G. Thomas Nelson and Wallace Nelson, seeks civil penalties against the board members and lawyer fees from the district.
The complaint, which was also filed on behalf of Twin Valley Times publisher Rod Thoreson, claims the defendants violated Minnesota's open meeting laws last April, May and July, and other instances. The lawsuit didn't seek the removal of Swanson.
Swanson did not return calls Monday or Tuesday.
The case won't be heard in court until next year.
"We are very confident this case will come to a successful conclusion for us," Garber said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Baird at (701) 241-5535
