Lake schools sued by man who lost job

4/8/2005

BOWLING GREEN - A longtime employee of Lake Local Schools who lost his job this year as part of budget cuts has filed suit against the school board in Wood County Common Pleas Court.

Bob Deal of Walbridge, who worked as maintenance, buildings, and grounds supervisor, is asking the court to order the school board to reinstate his contract with full benefits and pay his attorney costs.

Mr. Deal, who said he has worked for Lake Local schools for about 25 years, claims his contract did not contain a provision that allowed the school board to suspend his contract.

Lake Superintendent Paul Orshoski said yesterday that Mr. Deal and six bus drivers lost their jobs because of a reduction in force necessitated by the district's financial crunch.

"We followed the law, and I guess that's all I can tell you,'' Mr. Orshoski said.

The case has been assigned to Judge Reeve Kel-sey.