The Daily Mail reports that the lawsuit filed against Catskill Central School District, the Board of Education, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Farrell by former Catskill High School Principal William Ball IV alleging improper termination has been decided in favor of the district. Ball was placed on leave by CSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Farrell on Jan. 28, 2010, for undisclosed reasons, and the BOE subsequently formally suspended “Employee No. 4” in an 8-0 vote at its Feb. 24 meeting.


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Ball’s last official day of employment with the district was June 30, 2010. In his petition before State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Teresi, Ball sought reinstatement to the position and back pay since his leaving, stating his belief that his termination was “in bad faith and a subterfuge.” Ball has said he believes it stemmed in part from his actions as President of the Catskill Administrators Association — the negotiating unit that represents administrators at the district. The district said it was not, but was based on a need for “restructuring” — meaning to downsize — because of the economy, and that Ball’s termination was mirrored by other staff during the same action. The judge Terisi agreed with the district, writing, “Because Petitioner (Ball) failed to demonstrate that Respondents’ termination of his position was made in bad faith, his petition is denied.”