The Beaumont Independent School District recently settled a lawsuit brought by a school district employee claiming a conspiracy trying to get rid of him following his participation in a reporter’s investigation.
On June 19 Ronald Reynolds filed suit against BISD and then Superintendent Timothy Chargois in Jefferson County District Court.
Court records show that on Oct. 9 Reynolds filed a notice of non-suit with prejudice, stating the parties have reached an “amicable settlement.”
According to the original petition, Reynolds is an employee of the defendant school district as a school business volunteer supervisor. He also serves as the district’s press officer. During a school board meeting June 17, Chargois recommended the elimination of three employee positions, two of which are currently vacant with the third occupied by Reynolds.
Reynolds accused Chargois of making the recommendation as part of a conspiracy to remove him from employment with the school district following a journalistic investigation into the district’s administration in November 2013, which Reynolds was lawfully obligated to participate in as the press officer for the district.
He accused the defendants of retaliation for refusal to perform an illegal act.
Missouri City attorney Laurence Watts of Watts & Co. Lawyers Ltd represents him.
Jefferson County District Court Case No. A195-812
BISD settles retaliation suit brought by press officer
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