Wrongful Termination Case Against Valley School District Goes to Trial

A civil suit against the Valley School District (VSD) for wrongful termination of a groundskeeper/custodian after seven years of employment went to trial in Stevens County Superior Court on Monday, June 8.

Denise R. Smith sued VSD in 2024 for firing her from her position as a groundskeeper/custodian after she complained about harassment from her boss, Facilities Supervisor Jim Blair.

According to court documents, Smith alleged that Blair harassed her in the workplace by taking pictures of her while she was working, physically blocking her with his vehicle, preventing her from leaving the workplace shop, and treating her differently than her male co-workers.

While male workers were allowed to use riding lawnmowers, the suit claims Blair forced Smith to use a push lawn mower, pull weeds saturated with weed killer by hand instead of allowing her to use an electric weed eater, and purposely gave her work without shade in 100-degree heat.

When Smith complained to the district regarding the mistreatment from the years 2021 to 2024, the district found some complaints were substantiated but did nothing and continued to allow Blair to engage in disparate treatment toward Smith because she was a woman working in a predominantly male environment, according to the complaint.

Blair then placed Smith on performance improvement plans and made her write down what she was doing every 15 minutes and how she did each task but did not require the same of Smith’s male co-workers, court documents stated.

The district denied Smith a promotion in 2023, and also denied renewal of her employment contract in 2024 after she filed her civil suit against the district, according to Smith. VSD Superintendent Dr. Mandi Rehn declined to comment on the case.

According to the suit, Smith is seeking damages for wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation, loss of consortium with her spouse, Brett P. Smith, and tortious interference.