Manley's Remarks to Student 'Mean Spirited,' But Not Harassment: Investigator

An independent investigator found the actions of Hinsdale Township High School District 86 School Board member Claudia Manley did not rise to the level of harassment against a student March 12 or 13 at Hinsdale South High School.

The board voted 4-2 at the May 19 meeting to accept the investigator’s findings with modifications from the Uniform Grievance Procedure Committee.

Bullying complaints were filed against Manley for an incident outside the school in which a student, Marissa Dupont, was distributing campaign materials before the spring play.

The investigator interviewed Manley, her husband, Dupont and Hinsdale South parent Mary Sullivan, who were all present at the incident. The investigator also reviewed a security video from March 12 that captured the incident without audio.

Board President Kay Gallo read the findings report.

The video showed the confrontation between Manley and Sullivan lasted about seven minutes, and Dupont was not engaged in the adults’ conversation the entire time. It corroborated Dupont’s statement that Manley’s final remarks to her lasted about two minutes.

The time elements are important, the investigator found, because “there was not enough time for Mrs. Manley’s remarks to rise to the level that would establish a pattern of harassment and bullying,” the investigator’s report stated.

The video shows Manley took one step toward Dupont, and she later took another step toward Dupont.

Dupont and Sullivan both said in their interviews that Manley told Dupont that she was ruining the senior play, she was being a bad friend, she was a disappointment and she should be ashamed.

Dupont told the investigator that Manley spoke to her like a parent reprimanding a child, but not screaming. Sullivan called it a “verbal lashing.”

Manley acknowledged to the investigator that she asked Dupont how she could do this on senior play night, and she told Dupont she was disappointed in her. She said she was shocked by the distribution of campaign materials before the play that night.

The investigator found Manley’s remarks toward Dupont “were mean spirited and rude, but do not establish a pattern of harassment.” Though Manley calling Dupont a bully was hurtful, it did not substantiate a charge of bullying by Manley.

The investigator did find that Manley violated the Hinsdale High School District 86 Board of Education Policy 8-30, which states that the “school district expects mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among all individuals on school property or in any school event.”

Manley violated this policy March 12 “because she did not demonstrate respect or civility in her interactions with Marissa or with Mrs. Sullivan,” the findings stated.

After a closed session, the board also voted to dismiss the complaints filed against Board Vice President Jennifer Planson and Superintendent Bruce Law.

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