Settlement Ends Roller-Coaster Ride

Re: your April 7 article, “Flynn Settles With Weis.” I would like to thank all the wonderful people who have supported my family and I through the roller-coaster ride of an election campaign and the subsequent firing and legal actions.

After 22 months, that chapter has finally come to an end. April 5, I signed an agreement with Charles Weis, Ventura County superintendent of schools, settling our dispute, where I claimed that Weis fired me as political payback.

I am satisfied that my goals for filing the complaint against Weis have all been attained. During my campaign, I raised several issues concerning services for children. These issues led to investigations by the Ventura County Grand Jury, the California Department of Education and the Federal Office of Civil Rights. These agencies have all found the Ventura County superintendent of schools in violation of numerous issues that has resulted in mandating increased services for both at-risk and special education children, and the establishment of fiscal accountability.

In addition, I believe that I have received adequate compensation for my wrongful termination that will repair the financial damage caused to me and my family of six children by the unexpected six-day notice of termination and resulting unemployment. I am pleased to report that for the past year, I have been privileged to serve 18,000 preschoolers as coordinator of Head Start for the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

For many supporters, the only remaining piece was holding Mr. Weis personally accountable, which could have occurred in a sensational jury trial. I’ve never been concerned with a personal vendetta against Mr. Weis. God will deal with Mr. Weis’ actions in his own time. Now I hope that Mr. Weis will focus his attention on addressing the needs of our children.

DAN FLYNN

Thousand Oaks