Former education employees in New Mexico sue BIA

Monday, January 14, 2008  

Two former employees are accusing education officials at the Bureau of Indian Affairs of mismanaging federal funds, harassment and retaliation.

In a lawsuit in federal court, Gwen Francis says she was terminated for raising concerns about a disabled student. She also says Joel Longie, a Bureau of Indian Education line officer in Shiprock, New Mexico, made sexual advances towards her.

Susanna Turose is preparing a similar lawsuit. She says she was fired after she raised concerns about $100,000 in special education funds and was the victim of racial discrimination and retaliation.

Francis and Turose have complained to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Interior Department, the FBI and members of Congress. Their spokesperson, who also represents two current employees, say the BIE is rife with mismanagement.

"There exists in the Northern Navajo Agency discrimination, harassment, intimidation and threats to the adult staff along with criminal misappropriation of federally mandated funds and gross mismanagement," Michael Gaddy told The Farmington Daily Times. "The greatest crime is that being perpetrated on the children, especially those with special needs."

Get the Story:
Bureau of Indian Education sued: Wasted money, sexual harassment, retaliation all alleged in lawsuits (The Farmington Daily Times 1/14)

$rl Bureau of Indian Education - http://www.oiep.bia.edu