A federal jury has awarded nearly $500,000 to the former executive director of Upper Bucks County Technical School, finding his firing violated his constitutional rights.
Jeff Sweda, who led the school from 2018 until his dismissal in 2022, successfully argued that his termination was tied to his public stance against the school board’s pandemic-era masking approach, according to the Bucks County Courier Times. Jurors determined the decision to fire him amounted to retaliation for protected speech, awarding $100,000 in damages along with roughly $394,000 in back pay.
Sweda had previously been removed from his position following accusations tied to workplace conduct and use of school resources. While a state-level review later upheld his dismissal based on language-related issues, it did not support other claims made against him. His legal challenge in federal court centered instead on whether his speech and political views played a role in the board’s decision.
The case is not fully settled. Attorneys for the technical school have asked a judge to overturn the verdict, and the matter could move to an appeals court if challenged further. Sweda’s legal team has also filed a request seeking his reinstatement, while school officials have declined public comment as the litigation continues.
For more details, read the full report here.
