$400K Settlement Accepted By Former Schools Worker: Report

Sarasota FL

05 October, 2021

2:44 PM

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SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — A former Sarasota County Schools' employee who accused former Superintendent Todd Bowden of sexually harassing her has accepted a $400,000 settlement from the school district. Lyna Jimenez-Ruiz, a former program specialist with the district, said Bowden retaliated against her after she complained, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. She complained about Bowden in 2015, when he was her direct supervisor at Suncoast Technical College, alleging that he made multiple inappropriate comments to her, reports said. She said he also made sexual advances while they were attending a conference in July 2015, and he retaliated by demoting her and giving negative evaluations. The board approved the settlement Sept. 21. Bowden maintains his innocence. Read the full report at the Herald-Tribune.