MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) -- A former Mattoon School Board member is suing the district, superintendent and board president for alleged retaliation against her freedom of speech.

In a lawsuit filed on Oct. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division, Dr. Heidi Larson is accusing Mattoon Community Unit School District #2, Superintendent Tim Condron and Board President Dale Righter of taking part in a retaliatory campaign against her.

Larson and her lawyers said they believe the defendants did this in an effort to punish her for publicly criticizing and questioning decisions the district was making and some of the practices of the administration. She said she felt like her free speech was silenced by these parties for her comments about spending, curriculu

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