New Highlands acting principal is a key figure in lawsuits against district

The newly appointed acting principal at Highlands Early Childhood Center is a key figure in two lawsuits against the Highlands School District.

District Superintendent Monique Mawhinney appointed Cathy Russo as acting principal in the wake of the resignation of Principal Heather Bigney.

In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, the day she resigned, Bigney alleges that Mawhinney discriminated against her and threatened to fire her for taking unpaid leave and dating a former teacher, Jason Smith. Smith resigned in February.

Bigney alleges in her lawsuit that Mawhinney and Russo “looked for anything they could find” on Bigney after she had taken time off as part of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Russo had been assigned Bigney’s duties as principal while she was on leave between April and June, according to Bigney’s lawsuit.

Russo, who was named the district’s curriculum director in January, declined to comment Thursday.

Russo had previously been principal at Grandview Upper Elementary School in Tarentum. Bigney at one point was involved in a relationship with Smith, who was a fourth-grade teacher at Grandview.

Smith has a separate lawsuit against the district, also alleging retaliation for using his Family and Medical Leave Act rights last year. His complaint states Bigney is a key witness.

In Smith’s lawsuit, Mawhinney is alleged to have told Russo to change Smith’s evaluation scores, resulting in his receiving an unsatisfactory rating.

Bigney alleges in her lawsuit that she was scrutinized for “harmless actions,” including holding a student’s teddy bear that the student had given to her during a meeting.

Bigney’s complaint claims Mawhinney “has an animosity” toward individuals who use their Family and Medical Leave Act rights and those who are sympathetic toward them. It also alleges that Mawhinney singled out and scrutinized Bigney after learning she was in a relationship with Smith.

The district has disputed Bigney’s claims, and a spokeswoman said the district will defend against them “in the proper forum.”

The school board received and accepted Bigney’s resignation at its meeting Monday.

Mawhinney declined to comment on Bigney or her lawsuit at a meet-and-greet with district administrators and residents Wednesday evening at the Lloyd Hayden Community Center in Sheldon Park in Harrison.

No one attending the event brought up the matter.

On Monday, Mawhinney said the district would be working out the details of finding a permanent replacement for Bigney at the Early Childhood Center. The center houses all of the district’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students.

District spokeswoman Jennifer Goldberg could not be reached Thursday to find out what progress, if any, has been made.

Staff writers Michael DiVittorio and Madasyn Lee contributed to this report.