CHESAPEAKE-A teacher reinstated after being accused of cheating on state SOL tests almost two years ago has settled his lawsuit seeking back pay from the school system.

Lawyers for both sides Thursday said terms o the agreement prohibited them from revealing the amount coming to Frederick P. Bisogno Jr., who now teaches history at Hickory High School.

"The case is settled, and it is settled on mutually agreeable terms," said Louis N. "Mike" Joynes, II, Bisogno’s attorney. "My client is very happy with the settlement."

"It was done to the mutual satisfaction of both parties, " said Robert J. Barry, who represented the School Board and administrators named as defendants.

Bisogno sued in September 2002, demanding $15,000 plus interest, unspecified punitive damages and legal fees.

Bisogno and an Oscar F. Smith High School colleague were suspended in June 2001 over allegations that they violated Virginia Standards of Learning test-security rules. They had given a practice test to students that closely mirrored an actual test given the previous fall.

The teachers called any violation unintentional, and fought the recommendation of Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols that they be fired. A grievance panel recommended that the colleague be allowed to resign - she did- and that Bisogno be reinstated, but without back pay. He returned to work in February 2002. School administrators had told Bisogno his back pay was being put in escrow but later said no escrow account had been created.

The School Board formally approved the settlement on Monday.

  Reach Matthew Bowers at 222-5120 or at mbowers@pilotonline.com