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The Manhattan School District, recently named a defendant in not one but two federal sexual harassment lawsuits, is pressing forward with its search for a new superintendent.
The school district was named a defendant in a civil rights case filed by former HR Director Chris Ruddy on August 30, 2024, alleging discrimination and sexual harassment. A few months later, on December 9, 2024, former employee Susana Lukaszek filed the second lawsuit, also alleging discrimination and sexual harassment. Both cases follow the abrupt resignations of former Supt. Russel Ragon and Human Resources Director Chris Ruddy.
District parent and resident Katie Pavur condemned the board during public comments, shaming their actions and expressing her disgust following the news of the second lawsuit.
Pavur called out the board for allowing the two board members included in the sexual harassment suit to remain active on the board — especially during the critical superintendent search.
The district is searching for a new superintendent after Supt. Ron Pacheco announced his intention to retire at the end of the school year. Pacheco had stepped in as interim superintendent after Ragon’s abrupt resignation mid-school year and intended to retire at the end of that school year, but he decided to stay on for one more school year.
Lukaszek’s lawsuit alleged that two male board members, who were not explicitly named, had engaged in sexually harassing behavior. Those individuals only were identified as male board members serving on the board of education from 2020 to 2024. The entire board of education from that time period and the district are named in Lukaszek’s suit, in addition to Ragon and Ruddy.
“I know if teachers were involved, they would not be allowed to actively stay teaching,” Pavur said.
She questioned the board’s changing positions, perhaps alluding to former President Scott Mancke, who stepped down as president to assume a board member position following Ragon and Ruddy’s resignations. She asked whether an audit was conducted to determine whether Ragon had stolen funds and, if not, why.
Pavur continued, chiding President John Burke for his statement that Lukaszec’s resignation letter said nothing of the alleged behavior. Pavur brought up that Ragon’s resignation made it seem as though he left on good terms.
“The two board members allegedly involved should not be able to stay in our new superintendent search. By allowing our district office to turn into a swinger’s club gone wrong, in addition to possibly violating the law, this appearance of impropriety alone, without a doubt, has violated your code of conduct and your oath,” Pavur said urging the board to “do something right for the first time.”
Burke thanked Pavur for her comments but then quickly moved on.
It seemed one of Pavur’s points happened to be addressed, at least in part, as Supt. Ron Pacheco reported the audit for fiscal year 2024 had concluded, and the audit went “extremely well.”
During Pacheco’s report, he noted that he was admittedly nervous as a first-time superintendent but praised Sarah Bancsy for doing a great job preparing the financial documents for the audit.
Although the audit process went well, Lauterbach and Amen’s Don Shaw stated the audit resulted in a “modified opinion due to the fact the school district reports on a cash basis.”
Ideally, governing bodies would seek an “unmodified opinion,” which is the cleanest and best opinion. For an auditor, a modified opinion indicates some issue or concern with the audit.
With the exception of the modification, Shaw reported that it was an otherwise clean audit.
Later, Shaw explained, “We actually improved the opinion because of the change, so it went from an adverse opinion now to modified, so with the change, we actually were able to improve your status.”
The board approved the audit.
Curriculum Director Cheryl Donovan reported she is progressing with investigating pilot math programs. She said there was a lot of good news and praised the district’s teachers for being “the magic behind whatever is being used with our kids” regarding different curriculum programming.
Regarding athletics, Manhattan Junior High Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Gina Burlison shared that the girls’ and boys’ wrestling teams competed in Bloomington. She highlighted that the girls’ wrestling team also competed in a girls-only invitational in Yorkville, where they took home four first-place wins and a fourth-place win.
In other news, the school district approved a new intergovernmental agreement with the park district for them to use Wilson Creek School. The school district has the ability and priority to use Round Barn Farm Park. The agreement also outlines maintenance and landscaping duties.
In the superintendent’s report, Ron Pacheco noted budget preparation will begin for the upcoming fiscal year, and they need to make some changes to the policy concerning bullying, which Pacheco outlined in the meeting.
He also advised they are working on the 2025-2026 school calendar.
In regard to the new superintendent search, Pacheco reported there will be three special board meetings, January 13, 15, and 23, that will be for the superintendent search. He advised the meetings will be almost entirely a closed session, except for the public opening and closing of the meeting, which is required by law.
Pacheco said no action will be taken following closed sessions of those meetings.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter
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