Judge Dismisses Eavesdropping Suit Filed by Geneva School District 304

A former Heartland Elementary School principal and School District 304 administrator has been exonerated from an eavesdropping charge leveled against her in 2011 by School District 304, the Kane County Chronicle reports.

Circuit Court Judge David Akemann dismissed the lawsuit in a written ruling Tuesday.

The district has sued Pennington for secretly recording a 2009 conversation with two of her bosses despite being told numerous times she did not have consent to do so, according to court documents. Pennington also recorded a 2010 staff meeting without announcing to those in attendance or receiving their permission.

Both incidents involved Assistant Superintendents Dawn George and Patricia O'Neil.

The district was seeking an injunction to prevent further recordings, to have the existing recordings destroyed and to receive financial damages. Court documents had said Pennington's actions had caused an atmosphere of “distrust and fear” at the administrative center.

The 2011 eavesdropping suit came a few months after Pennington filed a complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission. She had already filed a civil suit against Geneva School District 304 claiming age- and gender-discrimination complaint.

Pennington said the district paid her less than two younger, less-experienced male elementary-school principals, and Pennington was moved from principal to a school administrative position after she received a negative review in 2009.

Related Articles

• Geneva School District Officials Sue Over Unauthorized Recordings
• On the Web: Former Geneva Principal Files Discrimination Complaint Against District 304
• D304 + a Former Principal = Too Many Lawsuits