Former Springfield teachers suing school district

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Two former Kiley Middle School teachers are suing the Springfield School Department and several current and former administrators.

The 22News I-Team obtained the complaint that was filed in the U.S. District in Springfield.

Former teachers, Alfred Afonso of South Hadley and Deborah Danoff-Hoppe of Russell, are seeking unspecified monetary damages. According to the complaint, Afonso's life was threatened on three different occasions in the school and, according to him, the school did not take any action to his complaints.

Danoff-Hoppe claims in the complaint that work conditions at Kiley Middle School in 2011-2012 affected her medically, physically and emotionally.

Both teachers were notified in 2012 that their contracts with the Springfield Public School District would not be renewed.

Afonso only worked in the school district for a year, while Danoff-Hoppe for 13.5 years in Springfield.

In addition to the district itself, the defendants in the case are former Springfield Superintendent Dr. Alan Ingram, and the principal and assistant principals of Kiley in the 2011-2012 school year.

22News called the school department for comment but we have not heard back.

We called the Springfield Education Association, the teacher's union, for comment but have not heard back from them either.

The Springfield laywer representing the teachers, Bart Heemskerk, wouldn't speak on the record with respect to the case, but did say he is still waiting for a response to the complaint from the city's attorney.

22News also has a call into the city's attorney and are still waiting to hear back.