Arlington principal terminated after probe

ARLINGTON -- Superintendent Nate Levenson fired Ottoson Middle School principal Stavroula Bouris yesterday, citing an investigation that allegedly showed that Bouris forged e-mails using the superintendent's name, gave preferential treatment to technology teacher Chuck Coughlin, and had an "inappropriate relationship" with Coughlin that harmed staff morale.

Levenson delivered a dismissal notice to Bouris yesterday, just two weeks before the start of school. He then posted a letter on the district website explaining a "proportionate and reasonable" conclusion to an "unpleasant and unfortunate situation."

A lawyer for Bouris and Coughlin, who was dismissed earlier this summer, said that the investigation was a ploy to give Levenson reason to fire Bouris. Frank Mondano, the lawyer, said Bouris and Coughlin filed a lawsuit against the district and would also seek arbitration in an attempt to retain their jobs and uncover who tapped into their e-mails.

Mondano called Levenson's allegations untrue and said he believes the e-mail monitoring was illegal. "At the moment, we're the hunted," Mondano said. "Now that he has terminated us, the shoe will be on the other foot."

Levenson declined to comment beyond the letter on the termination. But he said in an interview that he does not want people to dwell on the matter as school starts Sept. 6.

He said the matter "puts us at a decision point as a community: We could certainly spend months debating whether this was the right decision and whether something else could have been done, or we can focus on the kids."

Eric Moskowitz can be reached at emoskowitz@globe.com.