Lyle Public School Superintendent Jim Dusso’s restraining order against Lyle City Council member and former district employee Gary Harrison was shortened but still stands, District Judge Fred Wellmann ordered at a hearing Tuesday.

Harrison will be under the restraining order until July 1, 2012, and can attend his grandchildren’s school performances in the presence of his wife. He must not have contact with Dusso or with Lyle staff while he is on school property, however.

Harrison and Dusso worked out the terms through mediator Sherry Heimer.

“Hopefully this whole situation has been rectified and we can look forward to moving on as a community,” Harrison told the court Tuesday.

Harrison said he was surprised by the agreement and thankful he could attend his grandchildren’s school functions. He said he hopes this will be the first step in finding a resolution to the district’s issues.

The Lyle Public School Board and specifically Dusso are under fire as many residents have taken issue with Dusso’s leadership since he was appointed superintendent in May. Other residents are frustrated with the public’s reaction to the school district and support Lyle’s board and administration.

Dusso left the Mower County Jail and Justice Center after the hearing adjourned.

“I apologize for using the court’s time for a matter like this and I thank the judge,” Dusso said in the hearing.

Dusso filed a harassment restraining order last week against Harrison. Harrison was originally prohibited from going anywhere near where Dusso might be, including Dusso’s home or Lyle Public Schools, until Dec. 1, 2012.

The restraining order stemmed from an altercation between Dusso and Harrison at the Lyle Public School board’s Nov. 22 meeting.

Dusso said in the restraining order that Harrison stalked him to the office shortly after the board took a five-minute recess due to several audience members refusing to leave the meeting. According to the restraining order, Harrison told Dusso, “I should drop you.” It also said Harrison tried to follow Dusso and his wife out of the building to their car.

Harrison was one of several people who disrupted the September meeting as board member Dan King tried to address a letter the board sent him, while the rest of the board tried to circumnavigate King’s comments.

District officials sent out letters last week to Connie Branchaud, Sandra King, Tammy Whalen, Wendy King, and Harrison prohibiting them from attending future board meetings. Sandra and Wendy are mother and wife to board member Dan King. The board had asked each letter recipient to leave the November meeting, and Branchaud, Whalen and Sandra King were removed by Mower County Sheriff’s deputies.

District officials say they are complying with board policy 903, which states people could be prohibited from visiting school property if they are not following school guidelines or if their visit is “not in the best interest of students, employees or the school district.” Under the policy, prohibited visitors would be criminally trespassing.

District officials say only people who disrupt meetings in the future would receive those letters and that it is not a means to stifle criticism of the board or the administration.