CITY OF NEWBURGH — A Newburgh principal has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the school district, school board, teachers' union and several top administrators that include the superintendent, deputy superintendent and an assistant superintendent.

Balmville Elementary School Principal Lisa Buon, who was the principal at South Middle School until this summer, filed the suit on July 19 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Notices for the 10 defendants were served Thursday, according to court records.

Prior to becoming principal at South Middle School two years ago, Buon spent more than a decade as principal of Horizons-on-the-Hudson Elementary School in Newburgh.

Buon, a black woman, claims she was mistreated by district officials and other employees based on her race, gender and nationality, in violation of Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the latter of which requires her to file a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before she can sue.

Court records show that Buon appealed to the EEOC in April, echoing the allegations contained in the lawsuit. It did not make a final determination, but noted Buon could sue based on those claims, according to court records.

District employees named in the suit are Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Lisamarie Spindler, Superintendent Roberto Padilla, Deputy Superintendent Ed Forgit, South Middle School head delegate to the Newburgh Teachers Association Linda Smith, Newburgh Teachers Association President Stacy Moran, school board President Carole Mineo, and Assistant Superintendent of Finance Gregory Kern. The Newburgh school district, school board, and teachers' union are included in the suit.

Buon claims she faced disparate and discriminatory treatment through frequent disciplinary hearings based on false accusations; false claims that she failed to communicate with Spindler, which was used as a justification for moving her to Balmville; false allegations that Buon did not consistently attend principal meetings and professional development sessions; being denied supervisor or administrative roles for programs that she was qualified to lead; and generally being treated differently than her white counterparts by administrators.

She also alleges Padilla told her she was acting like a "victim" and being disrespectful for taking notes during a meeting, and that Forgit witnessed this.

Buon said in the suit that undue stress in her work environment contributed to the breakdown of her marriage.

Buon and the school district declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday.

"We don't think it's appropriate to comment on pending litigation," a school district spokesperson said in a statement. "The matter has been referred to the district's legal counsel who will respond in court."

All defendants are being represented by attorneys with Silverman and Associates based in White Plains. Buon is legally representing herself.

Buon said she intended to sue the district in a Times Herald-Record article written on July 2. That night, Buon and a room full of her supporters tried to persuade the school board not to terminate her probationary appointment at South Middle School and subsequently shift her to a principalship at Balmville.

The board voted 6-2 to approve the switch.

Buon is seeking a jury trial and relief in the form of "suitable compensation" for damages to her reputation in the school district, and for "emotional distress, pain and suffering they have caused me," according to the suit.

lbellamy@th-record.com