Times Herald Record
July 22, 2007

Catskill Confidential



Former Liberty librarian to make her case

Embattled former Liberty Middle School librarian Angela Page's hearing will resume July 30 and 31 at the Liberty Firehouse.

The district is attempting to remove her tenure in order to fire her. Page has been out of work since 2004, since going on sick leave because of moldy conditions at the library.

The first part of the hearing was held in March, and was largely about the school's case against her. The next hearing will be on Page's defense. She is expected to bring several witnesses to the stand.

Page complained for years about a leaking roof there but only recently has work been done to rectify the problem. Page sued in order to receive her workman's compensation for her sick time.

The district wants to fire her since she can no longer teach inside the school. They also maintain that her salary of $81,701 plus benefits is a burden. Page said the district should accommodate her because of the chemical insensitivities she developed there. She has offered to teach multimedia classes from home. The New York state Department of Education hearings will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of an independent arbitrator. A decision is expected by the end of the year.