KALAMAZOO, MI -- A lawsuit against Kalamazoo Public Schools filed by a former administrator has been dismissed with prejudice.

Jim English, former assistant superintendent of finance and operations, was fired in December 2022 following the resignation of former Superintendent Rita Raichoudhuri. English sued the district in April 2023 claiming he was fired for whistleblowing.

English now serves as the business manager for Cassopolis Public Schools, according to the CPS website.

English was fired after serving 18 months in the position. An investigation into English prompting the firing found his actions were “akin to gross negligence” and raised “grave doubts” of his judgment, according to the report.

Neither party will pay any costs to the other, according to the settlement agreement reached on Jan. 5. The case also can’t be reopened, according to court records.

Issues cited in the investigation report include:

• Helping create a Kalamazoo Public Schools Foundation without board approval and spending more than $91,000 in district funds on its operations.
• Hiring an outside contract worker to serve as the district’s finance director.
• Hiring an outside contractor to do accounting work for the district without a written contract, hourly rate or board approval.
• Engaging in practices “not appropriate” for the district’s chief financial officer relating to staff and human resources.

English later told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette he “strongly disagree(d) with the allegations” and he...

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