Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 27/99) - A local radio station has publicly apologized to public school board superintendent Ken Woodley but the parent still facing a lawsuit says she is standing firm.

"It was never the intent of the CJCD news department to air defamatory material against any individual or organization," a statement, read during CJCD's peak-hour morning newscasts yesterday, said.

"The intent of our story was to bring to light perceived communication problems between concerned parents and the school district."

The statement was scheduled to be repeated during similar broadcasts this morning.

Woodley launched a suit last fall against CJCD and local parent Laurie Sarkadi over stories aired in December, 1997, concerning the board's child abuse prevention protocol.

"I'm pleased this announcement has been made on the radio," Woodley said. "It should put the community's mind at ease with respect to safety at school and how we handle child abuse prevention protocols."

Neither CJCD or Woodley would provide any further details.

The station's owner-manager, Eileen Dent, said CJCD was approached about reaching the settlement.

"Dr. Woodley came to us last week," she said. "We were pleased to settle out of court. No one wants to go to court."

On Wednesday afternoon, Sarkadi released a statement saying the CJCD-Woodley deal did nothing to change the status of the lawsuit she still faces.

"The CJCD settlement does not affect the ongoing action filed against me," she said. "This has been a matter of principle with me since I was first rebuffed by the school board for asking questions about the handling of child sexual abuse allegations."

"I will not accept any restrictions on my right as a parent to ask questions and expect accountability from my elected officials."

Another parent, Ardith Dean, who organized a petition demanding public school board members give an accounting to ratepayers detailing how much the lawsuit has cost the district, said she still isn't satisfied.

"The apology stops part of the court case," she said. "But the way in which the whole situation was handled still has to be addressed so everyone feels they can bring issues forward (to the school board) without being worried."