Former nurse sues school district

A former Whittell High School nurse is suing the Douglas County School District for wrongful termination.

Sheree Pharris filed a complaint April 28 in Douglas District Court. She also lists claims of "tortious discharge" and intentional infliction of emotional distress and names district Superintendent Pendery Clark as a defendant.

The complaint says Pharris was asked in March 1999 to prepare a health plan for a student in another school, and she refused because she had not met the student and said the assignment would violate her ethical duties.

The complaint alleges the school district "constructively discharged (Pharris) for insubordination by forcing her resignation" in April 1999. The document claims the district violated its own regulations by not following a three-step conflict resolution process it has enacted, and that Pharris was not allowed to have a lawyer during a hearing on the matter.

Pharris is seeking more than $10,000 in lost wages and other benefits, general damages of more than $10,000 for infliction of emotional distress, unspecified punitive damages and attorneys' fees.