The Little Silver superintendent allegedly flirted by texted and joked about converting her subordinate into a lesbian
LITTLE SILVER -- A former administrator in a Monmouth County school district who alleged she was sexually harassed by the superintendent has settled her lawsuit for $290,000.
The Little Silver school district settled a sexual harassment suit filed by a former employee for $290,000. The news was reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provides a partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.
JoAnn Riley alleged Little Silver Superintendent Carolyn Kossack flirted with her by text and made jokes about converting her to a lesbian while she was employed as the district's special services supervisor for five months in 2012.
Most of the texts sent by the now 51-year-old Kossack were "inappropriate, personal and sexual in nature," the lawsuit says.
When Riley met with Kossack to discuss her treatment, she was fired, according to the suit. Riley also alleges her union representative, Dennis Morolda regularly made inappropriate remarks about Riley when he communicated with the superintendent, the suit says.
Riley's suit also says the board of education refused to discuss her firing at a meeting. The Edison resident argued that Kossack and other district officials made disparaging remarks after her firing that made it harder to find a new job.
As a result, Riley says she experienced insomnia, depression, anxiety, headaches, chest pains and high blood pressure.
Kossack, a Howell resident, remains the superintendent and is paid $145,000 per year, according to public records.
Riley is the supervisor of public personnel services for grades K-5 for the Franklin Township school district in Somerset County.
In settling the suit on Nov. 15, 2015, the Little Silver school district admitted no wrongdoing.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.