Stonington — A school bus driver who was removed from her job last fall has sued the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Van Riley in federal court alleging they deprived her of her First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly.

Tiffany Walsh of Pawcatuck had worked for First Student Transportation, the firm that has the school bus contract with the town, from 2006 until November of 2014 when she alleges that the board and Riley forced her removal as a bus driver. The school board discussed the lawsuit in executive session last Thursday night. Riley declined comment Sunday night and board chairman Frank Todisco could not be reached for comment.

In her lawsuit, Walsh states that her problems began in June of 2014 when she posted criticism of Riley and actions he was taking in regards to the school system on her Facebook page and urged other parents and residents to “join with her in standing against” Riley.

She said that Riley complained about the posting to Mary Ribeiro, the Pawcatuck yard manager for First Student and the pair confronted her about the post. The suit states that Walsh was reinstated a week later after the company determined the discipline was not warranted because the posting was not job related.

Last October, the suit alleges that Ribeiro became aware that Walsh was trying to unionize bus drivers. She was placed on leave in November after the company said other drivers had alleged she had warned them she would cut the brake lines of buses if the drivers did not approve the union. Police said they investigated but could not substantiate the allegations. The drivers voted 18-16 in December to reject the proposal to form a union.

First Student did not proceed with any discipline in regards to the alleged brake line threat. Walsh, though, was not allowed to return to her job after she said the school board and Riley requested that First Student not use her as a driver because of past behavior towards students and staff.

She said First Student offered her a job in other area school systems it serves but she declined because of child care issues.

Walsh, who has three school aged children, is seeking reinstatement to her job, back pay and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

j.wojtas@theday.com

@joewojtas