The 18-month arbitration involving fired Ottoson teacher Chuck Coughlin has ended, but the public must wait until at least Oct. 30 for a decision. Believed to be the longest-running school arbitration in Massachusetts history, the case concluded July 15, the 28th hearing, following sessions July 6 and June 18.

"Everyone is glad it's completed," attorney Alan S. Miller said July 22. He is a partner in Stoneman Chandler Miller, the attorneys for the Arlington public schools who argued the school's case. "It's in the arbitrator's hands." He declined to comment further, except to say briefs in the case are due in court Sept. 1.

June 14, 2008: Coughlin arbitration in 6th month

In pursuing arbitration, Coughlin is seeking to get back the teaching job he lost in August 2007 following an investigation of e-mails between then-Principal Stavroula Bouris and him. Bouris was fired two weeks after Coughlin. The probe turned up alleged forgery as well as use of the schools' e-mail system that is contrary to policy.

Under the law, the maximum award Coughlin can get if the arbitrator rules in his favor is reinstatement to a teaching position as well as back pay. He cannot receive attorneys' fees or damages, Miller said.

While the proceedings of the arbitration have been closed to the public, Arlington teachers' union sources have said that Frank Mondano, the attorney for Coughlin, has portrayed the case as a vendetta manufactured by then-Superintendent Nate Levinson. Levinson resigned last August, citing "certain improprieties," which have not been fully explained.

A column dated Nov. 10, 2008, published in The Advocate, reflects Mondano's view. Ron Colosi Jr., president of the Arlington Education Association, the teachers' union, wrote:

"When the facts of this case are revealed, there will be several individuals who will be held responsible for their behavior. Because the fact of the matter is, this was an orchestrated, intentional, and malicious retaliatory act, predicated on manipulations, half truths, and misrepresentations, and it likely involved a conspiracy, of which you may be a part [he is referring to School Committee member Ron Spangler].

Colosi told The Advocate in June that the case would tie a record for the longest arbitration on. Miller could not confirm that.

Colosi and Mondano have been asked to comment about the end of the arbitration hearings.

In June, Town Meeting member Joseph Tully asked for a full accounting of legal fees in the case, dating back to the beginning of the investigation of Bouris and Coughlin, in June 2007.

Five hearings have been held in the Bouris arbitration, beginning last January. Five others dates have been scheduled for September and October, Kay Hodge, a lawyer for Stoneman Chandler who is involved in that case, said. July 23.

This story was first published at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, and updated after that.