Yellowknife (Dec 17/04) - The wrongful dismissal case of a former superintendent of public education in Yellowknife may soon be over, almost five years after it began.

At a regular board meeting Dec. 14, Yk School District No. 1 trustees passed a motion to accept a proposal regarding the case of Kenneth Woodley. The proposal had been discussed during an in-camera session earlier that day.

Woodley was suspended from his job as superintendent of schools in June 1999, re-appointed after challenging the suspension in court, then fired by the school board in October 1999. The board was mum on any other information regarding the case, except to release a statement that "all issues surrounding Dr. Woodley's termination have now been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of both parties."

Chairperson Reanna Erasmus said the board didn't have to give details to the public, which will be on the hook for any legal fees and settlements paid out. When asked if the public would ever know the details, she said "no."

In the audited financial statements for the district up to June 30, 2004, Woodley's court action, if successful, was estimated to cost the district no more than $350,000.

As for why the district decided to settle now, Erasmus was vague. "It has to end at some point. It's a confidential personnel matter and it's over," she said after the meeting.

According to an Oct. 8, 1999 report by then board chairperson Dan Schofield, Woodley was fired for "misconduct and incompetence." Woodley unsuccessfully challenged the dismissal in NWT Supreme Court.

He filed a $2 million lawsuit in May 2000, naming Yk No. 1 board members, then Education, Culture and Employment Minister Michael Miltenberger, the Commissioner of the NWT, lawyer Shannon Gullberg and two others as defendants.

Woodley sought $1 million in punitive damages, $650,000 for loss of income and $325,000 for aggravated damages. Erasmus did say that once the matter is concluded, the district would issue a news release with more information.

When reached by phone Wednesday, Woodley said he hadn't been notified of any changes in the status of his lawsuit.