Supreme Court Orders Missoula Schools to Release Valerie Stamey’s Discipline Records

The Montana Supreme Court ruled this week that Missoula County Public Schools mustrelease some employment records about the former Ravalli County Treasurer.

Valerie Stamey was removed last year from the Treasurer’s office in a scandal over unpaid bills and misplaced taxpayer money.

She had been appointed as interim treasurer in September 2013.

Before working for Ravalli County, she served as the supervisor of food services for Missoula County Public Schools.

Court documents indicate she was disciplined at the school district for fraudulent or illegal financial transactions.

NBC Montana and two other media outlets sued to get the school district to release documents relating to alleged fraudulent activity.

A District Court judge ordered the release, but Addis appealed.

Just this week, the Supreme Court ruled the lower court had acted "conscientiously and correctly" in its application of Montana law.

After her departure from Missoula County Public Schools in 2011, Stamey filed two lawsuits against the district, for wrongful termination and slander. Neither lawsuit was served on the district.

In the suit, Stamey alleged the district fired her after a billing mixup that wasn’t her fault.

The suit alleged an unidentified company Stamey owned did business with the same supplier used by the school district.

Stamey claims the supplier fraudulently billed the district for accounts tied to her personal business which led to her termination.

The school district reported Stamey voluntarily resigned.