×

Philipsburg-Osceola faces lawsuit

Superintendent accused of harassment, retaliation against former employee

A former transportation director of the Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the superintendent and the district, claiming that she was subjected to a “relentless stream of sexually offensive and inappropriate remarks and conduct” and was retaliated against when she reported them to school board members.

Amanda Taylor said in her federal lawsuit filed in Johnstown that she was forced to resign from her administrative position on Sept. 8, 2015, because of the “conduct and escalating retaliation” against her by Superintendent Gregg Paladina, who last year was given a five-year extension of his contract.

The lawsuit was filed by civil rights attorney Andrew J. Shubin of State College, who contends the harassment and retaliation violated state and federal civil rights laws and that Taylor, a veteran of the National Guard, “had a right to a workplace free of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.”

According to the legal papers, Taylor took her complaints to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission last April and was given a right-to-sue notice three weeks ago.

Paladina, just prior to Taylor’s resignation, allegedly told her she was not doing her job, and he refused to speak to her, barred her from administrative meetings and attempted to prevent her from communicating with her co-workers — this after moving her office from the district’s administrative suite to a “windowless basement room formerly used as a wrestling locker room.”

One of the incidents that bothered Taylor the most, the lawsuit said, was when the superintendent on April 22, 2014, went into Taylor’s office, snuck behind her and placed a phone cord that he had wrapped around both of his fists in front of her neck and referred to himself as a murderer while mimicking strangulation.

She placed her hand between the cord and her neck and pushed it away. According to the lawsuit, Taylor was “terrorized” and “distraught and crying” after the incident.

The lawsuit said fellow workers came to her aid.

At that point Taylor reported Paladina to the district’s human resource director.

After that incident, Taylor went for two weeks’ training with the National Guard and upon returning found that her desk had been relocated to the basement.

The Mirror contacted the superintendent by email and asked for his response to the charges.

He replied that he wanted to confer with his attorney before commenting.

He then sent a second communication indicating he was told he is not permitted to comment on pending litigation, and that the district was directing all questions to its solicitor, Altoona attorney Carl Beard.

School Board President Rebecca Timchak declined comment about the lawsuit, noting it will have to be played out in court.

Asked if she as a school board member was aware of the issue between Taylor and Paladina, she replied, “I never knew there was a dispute.”

The district solicitor at the time Taylor resigned was State College attorney Brian Marshall. He was asked if the school board knew about Taylor’s complaints when she resigned.

He stated that he could not discuss the situation.

The lawsuit stated that at least two school board members had been informed of Taylor’s charges. It stated the HR director informed a school board member about Taylor’s treatment, and Taylor herself stated she told a second board member as early as June 2014.

Neither of those board members could be contacted Wednesday.

However, the lawsuit stated that on Oct. 19, 2015, the school board’s solicitor hired attorney Roberta Binder Heath of Huntingdon to investigate Taylor’s complaints.

She concluded Taylor’s claims were “founded” and that Paladina’s conduct was “illegal.”

The Binder Heath report stated Paladina’s denials of the charges were not credible, that Taylor’s complaints were confirmed by “multiple credible eye witnesses” and that the superintendent’s decision to move Taylor to a basement locker room had “all the earmarks of retaliation.”

Binder Heath said Wednesday the lawsuit correctly states her findings. She said she interviewed 16 or 18 people in conducting her investigation.

The Huntingdon attorney said that the solicitor (Marshall) told the school board that Binder Heath recommended Paladina’s contract either not be renewed or that he be severely disciplined.

Binder Heath said the board rejected Marshall’s recommendations and eventually fired the solicitor, thus acquiring Beard as its present legal representative.

The school board in April 2016 extended Paladina’s contract until 2021.

Beard said Wednesday that the board was given a counter-statement of facts and it was that statement, prepared by Paladina’s then attorney, that led the board to extend Paladina’s contract.

He said there are two sides to every issue, and he vowed that he will aggressively fight the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also reported an incident that occurred in June 2014 in which Paladina while in his office reportedly choked and pushed the district’s business director against a wall. She stated that she also saw Paladina place the business director in a headlock.

Taylor claims Paladina continuously commented on her appearance, made vulgar comments and discussed the sexual relationships of other members of the staff with her.

“Ms. Taylor’s working conditions became so intolerable that a reasonable person in the employee’s position would have felt compelled to resign,” the lawsuit concluded.

It asks that Taylor be paid for lost wages and benefits, be awarded front pay and that Paladina pay punitive damages for retaliating against her.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today