Former Principal Sues Lafayette School Board

The former principal of N.P. Moss Middle School has filed suit against the Lafayette Parish School Board over a dispute with his contract.

According to court documents, Kenneth Douet was contracted to be the principal at the middle school through June of 2012, but the school was closed in June of 2010.

"...in the event that an administrator in a contract position with local school systems...is legally displaced because of the end of that position due to no fault on part of the school system," the law suit reads, "then that same administrator...is entitled to preference at another job of similar status and the same capacity and salary as that which he had at the time of the displacement."

Douet, though, says that didn't happen. When a similar job came open at the newly formed Early College Academy, Douet says he expressed his interest in the position. Instead, someone else was appointed as the school's principal.

Douet says he took the necessary steps to dispute the move, even garnering the support of former superintendent Burnell Lemoine.

"[The] Lafayette Parish School Board overruled the recommendations of the superintendent and persisted in the position of refusing the contracted for and deserved position to Ken Douet," the suit reads.

Douet believes those actions were "political retribution" against him for "reasons unconnected with his capability and past performance."

Douet is seeking $400,000 in damages.