The defamation case of Dr. Ted Wachter, principal of Rosewood Elementary School, versus Richland One Area Superintendent Jake Sello reached its conclusion this week. New superintendent Dr. Allen Coles sent the following letter to all district principals August 1:

Good Morning Richland One Principals,

On July 28, Dr. Sello submitted a letter of resignation effective August 8. We wish Dr. Sello well in his future endeavors.

On a temporary basis, I have asked Dr. Moniuszko to supervise the schools in Area 1. Until further notice, questions that would have gone to Dr. Sello are to go to Dr.Moniuszko.

Please be flexible as we work through this period of change.

Thank you

Allen Coles

This case began three years ago when Dr. Wachter requested to be removed from supervision by Dr. Jake Sello, area superintendent, because of defamatory and slanderous accusations. Superintendent Ron Epps refused and continued to support his assistant against many charges by Wachter.

The case reached court in December 2004. Among other things, Sello admitted

• Altering Wachter’s annual evaluation by forging his name.

• Accusing Wachter of racism (by trying to get rid of his black students at Rosewood), and

• Threatening to fire Wachter if the scores of black students at Rosewood “continued to decline.”

Wachter proved in court that student scores at Rosewood improved not declined. In fact, the scores of black students at Rosewood were higher than black students in any other Richland One schools.

The jury ruled Sello was guilty of defamation and slander, and Wachter was awarded $150,000 in damages. Soon after the decision, Superintendent Ron Epps announced his resignation.

On June 8, Judge Ernest Kinard reduced the jury’s award to $93,000 but upheld the decision.

On July 19, Richland One dropped its appeal and agreed to pay Wachter $93,000 as ruled by Judge Ernest Kinard on June 8 and $37,000 for Wachter to drop the federal civil rights case against Richland One.

With this settlement of $130,000 and over $150,000 in legal fees paid by Richland One, this case cost the taxpayers of Richland County nearly $300,000.

Dr. Wachter’s attorneys were Lewis Cromer and Amy Gaffney.

The case, an embarrassment to Richland One, is finally closed. Sello has resigned, Epps is working with a non–profit foundation, Coles is superintendent, and Wachter remains principal at the award–winning Rosewood Elementary School.