Ex-Principal Settles Lawsuit Over Firing After Election

Dan Flynn, a former county schools administrator who claims he was fired as political payback two years ago, has received a $120,000 settlement for what he calls his wrongful termination.

Flynn, 43, said he is vindicated by the insurance company’s decision to settle the $3-million lawsuit he filed against Supt. Charles Weis and the district.

Flynn, who had been principal of the county’s schools for troubled youths, filed suit after he wasn’t offered an extension to his $62,000 annual contract in June 1994, less than three weeks after unsuccessfully challenging Weis in the election for superintendent.

“The cash is the icing on the cake,” Flynn said. “Everything that I set out to do by my running has now been done. And not by my running, but my firing.”

Flynn said he ran against Weis because the district was mishandling money and that led to troubled students being inadequately served. Since then, Weis has conceded that some money was mishandled, and changes have been made to programs for some students.

Weis said Saturday that the timing of Flynn’s termination was “inopportune” but maintained he was fired because of poor job performance.

He also said he was not aware that the settlement negotiations had been completed, but that any award was a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“There shouldn’t be one cent provided to Mr. Flynn for this frivolous lawsuit,” he said. “An insurance company makes a decision based on a bottom line, a financial decision, not on what’s right or wrong. That’s their job, I guess, to make a profit. And I think that’s unfortunate because you don’t always get justice that way.”

Board President Marty Bates, who heads the panel’s conservative majority that assumed power in the wake of Flynn’s firing, agreed with Weis’ assessment that the settlement is a waste of public money. But he blamed Democrat Weis, not Republican Flynn, for that.

“The taxpayers are spending $120,000 for Dr. Weis’ ego, and that concerns me,” he said. “In my opinion [Flynn] was terminated under a vindictive situation because he was challenging Dr. Weis for office.”

Flynn missed one day of work after being fired. He returned to the Los Angeles County Office of Education--where he worked before he was hired in Ventura County--at a higher salary than he was earning here.

The 15-year Conejo Valley resident said he hasn’t ruled out running against Weis in two years.

“Next year, I’ll take a look at the programs and the systems he has in place,” Flynn said. “If I feel there’s room for improvement and he’s not doing an adequate job, I’ll be the first to put my hat in the ring.”