Principal reinstated in Camden as part of whisltleblower suit settlement

A former school principal turned whistle-blower is getting his job back, thanks to an arbitration judge’s ruling. The Camden educator was fired in 2006 after he said he balked at school officials’ pressure to alter test scores at Brimm Medical Arts High School. In addition to being reinstated, Joseph Carruth is slated to receive $860,000 to settle his whistle-blower lawsuit.

Attorney Ross Begelman said his client Joseph Carruth just wants to get back to the job he loves.

“Joseph Carruth refused to take part in a scheme to cheat on statewide testing and alter transcripts,” Begelman said. “And he alleged that as a result he was fired as principal. The lawsuit was filed under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act. We’re whistle-blower lawyers.”

Begelman said employees should be able to approach employers with concerns about possible wrongdoing.

“And the employer shouldn’t view you as an enemy — they should view you as a friend. And that’s all Joe Carruth was, a good employee who did not want to cheat on testing and did not want to cheat the school children of Camden. He wanted to do a good job and get them educated.”

Begelman said that’s exactly what Carruth intends to do when he goes back to work.

The school district’s lawyer did not return calls for comment.