Mediation Ordered In Principal's Job Dispute

Saturday, July 28th 2007, 3:30 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ Mediation has been ordered in an ongoing dispute between a school district and a principal whose job has been in limbo for months. Muskogee County District Judge Jeff Payton said he will select a mediator by Tuesday to oversee the sessions regarding the employment of Hilldale High School Principal Dewayne Pemberton.

Pemberton was suspended with pay in February and then fired in March over accusations that he interfered with an assistant principal's efforts to persuade a softball coach to obtain a commercial driver's license and transport students to games.

Pemberton appealed his dismissal to the court, and Payton issued a temporary restraining order in April that allowed Pemberton to return to work. That order remains in effect.

Earlier this week, a referee for the Oklahoma Supreme Court heard arguments on the school district's effort to have the state's high court take jurisdiction on the case. No decision was made.

After Payton's decision to order mediation Friday, the next hearing in district court was scheduled for Aug. 10.

Hilldale's classes begin Aug. 16.

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