LEBANON - Superintendent Jim Robinson has notified the Lebanon Community School District of a possible lawsuit against board members Rick Alexander and Josh Wineteer, for alleged contract interference.

Robinson's attorney, James Brown of Portland, sent the tort claim notice Tuesday to the district office. Board members intend to discuss it during closed session at a special meeting Monday.

The claim states Alexander and Wineteer "wrongfully interfered with Mr. Robinson's contract" on or about Jan. 22.

Board members gathered on Jan. 23 for a closed session to discuss Robinson's annual evaluation. In March, they voted 3-2 to accept the results of that evaluation, and to let his contract expire when it finishes in 2010.

The evaluation graded Robinson as "needs improvement," the second-to-lowest possible score, on communications and community relations, labor relations, values and ethics of leadership and human resources management. Scores were straight averages of grades from individual board members, which were not publicly released.

Brown, Robinson's attorney, said in the claim that Robinson believes Alexander and Wineteer were acting outside their capacities as board members. If a lawsuit is filed, Brown wrote, "we do not believe that such claims … will implicate the district's interest."

If filed, the lawsuit would mark the second time Robinson has sued the two board members over alleged violations of his contract. He sued in February 2006 but offered a settlement agreement a year later if the school district signed a statement reaffirming the conditions of his contract and the roles and responsibilities of school board members.

Wineteer and Alexander were not present during the settlement discussion and said later they had not signed the statement.

Robinson could not be reached Friday for comment on the tort claim. Alexander said he had not yet read the claim and wishes to do so before making any statements.

Wineteer said he had gone over Brown's statements with the school district's legal counsel, Paul Dakopolos, and that he, Wineteer, believes the claim is "ridiculously vague."

"It doesn't appear to be specific to anything at all," he said. "I have no idea what he's thinking."