The controversial rehiring of a former Roosevelt school principal accused of sexually harassing teachers was the topic of discussion Thursday night at the district's first board meeting of the school year.

As News 12 Long Island has reported, the teachers union in Roosevelt was furious over the hiring of Brodrick Spencer as the high school's new principal.

According to court records, Spencer inappropriately touched an upstate teacher in 2015. He allegedly did the same to a teacher in Roosevelt in 2009 when he was principal at the middle school.

Spencer was never brought up on criminal charges. The first lawsuit against him was settled out of court. A civil case against Spencer for the second accusation of harassment is scheduled for a jury trial in federal court later this year.

School district officials have defended Spencer's hiring.

"Mr. Spencer is an incredibly talented administrator who understands our community and shares the Roosevelt School District's academic philosophy," officials said in a statement.

Spencer attended Thursday's meeting and soaked in the public's comments, but declined to speak with News 12 on camera.