The Catskill school musical director who was suspended after allegations that she told students to put tape on their mouths during a rehearsal has received a letter of reprimand and been fined $1,000, according to a settlement with the district.

Michelle Storrs-Ryan was placed on leave after the incident in which she is accused of making the comment to get students to stop talking. One student jokingly did it to herself. The suspension prompted a wave of heated rallies and protests by students and parents at school board meetings in March.

The district had to postpone the musical “Cinderella” in the wake of the controversy.  

Storrs-Ryan was returned to the classroom a few weeks later. Also suspended at the time was Principal Junait Shah.

The Catskill Board of Education on June 12 approved a settlement agreement. The agenda does not list Storrs-Ryan by name, but just said the item was “regarding discipline of a tenured teacher.”

Because she has tenure, the district would have required to go through a formal process with the state to discipline her. Instead, they reached a mutual agreement to skip that process.

A letter of reprimand in connection with Storrs-Ryan’s conduct in February 2024 and April 2024 will be placed in her personnel file. The type of conduct was not specified in the document. The letter will be removed in three years if she “does not engage in conduct for which the District pursues further disciplinary action,” according to the agreement, obtained by NewsChannel 13 through a Freedom of Information Law request.

The fine of $1,000 will be deducted from her pay in substantially equal amounts after the first payroll period of the 2024-2025 school year and continuing through June 30, 2025.

She also is required to participate in five hours of district-provided training regarding student discipline, appropriate student/teacher interactions and relationships, sensitivity training and other professional development the district deems “necessary and appropriate based on the underlying concerns that otherwise would have resulted in charges under Education Law.”

Storrs-Ryan will be allowed to complete the training during the workday.

The agreement contains a confidentiality clause in which neither party agrees to disclose its terms and conditions, except as required by law.