These are some things you might not read on a campaign sign.

Allegations of racist and sexist remarks and fostering a toxic workplace culture. Sources: Gazette 8-8-20 & Cleveland Scene 8-12-20

• a group of at least 15 former employees had drafted the letter, with a long list of examples documenting what they referred to as a toxic workplace

• those systemic issues can be boiled down to the following: a workplace culture "wrought with nepotism, sexual harassment, and racism"

• the letter describes in detail a culture that employees say led to extraordinarily high rates of turnover

• by their count, in 2 years, 25 people resigned, tried to resign or were fired, equaling a turnover rate of 71%

• "on the fundraising team alone, there was a 120% turnover rate from March 2016 to March 2018"

• employees say they feared retaliation if they took concerns to HR

• they watched, aghast, as those in senior leadership positions, including former VP of Community Impact Seth Kujat, made racist or inappropriate comments with impunity

• Seth Kujat was quoted as saying, "Move you Nepali wh*re, move you b***h, I'm going to ride you"

• Kujat and others reportedly maintained a view of poverty as the result of individual bad life choices

• it noted 6 positions at the Director or VP level that employees alleged were occupied by the CEO's personal friends (Seth Kujat was VP of Community Impact)

• the letter noted that Kujat recently left United Way, but stressed that he was not the only purveyor of the toxic workplace culture

Found to have discriminated against an employee by admonishing them from communicating directly with the Board. Source: State of Ohio, State Personnel Board of Review 3-4-22

Bus incident anonymously reported to the Gazette during Board Campaign as smear tactic.

• information was sent to the Gazette anonymously

• according to public records, no person, other than the Gazette reporter, asked for such records after receipt from the anonymous source in order to verify

• the information anonymously was submitted to the Gazette during a Board Campaign and the information provided could only come from personnel file in which Administrators and Board Members had access to.

• several public comments and requests made by Huttinger for the Board to investigate the source of the anonymous culprit were all ignored

• no injury was sustained or reported by the school, student, or parents

• no written or verbal complaint was made by the student or parents

• instruction to radio the supervisor in a deescalating situation was the training given for bus drivers

• all actions and steps taken by Huttinger during the incident were based on safety practices and training provided by the State of Ohio and Buckeye

• Huttinger refused to transport the student in the future unless he had an aid present or received instructions from an Administrator regarding safe bus riding practices and laws

• the student, Steven Chapman, was a Junior studying at the Medina County Career Center

• Huttinger had built a positive rapport with Steven having him as a rider for 2 years, contradictory from other staff members

• no required hearings were scheduled or missed

• no report was made to the State of Ohio

• in light of the recent contract renewal for her supervisor and the fact that she was running as a School Board Candidate, she sought other employment

• upon formal approval of her hiring, Huttinger accepted the job at another school district and submitted her resignation to the Board

• Huttinger was a strong and active supporter for a "no" vote regarding the failed May 2023 $80 million bond, submitted a report regarding her direct supervisor to the Board not in favor for Mrs. Galdun's contract renewal, and she made many public comments at Board meetings regarding her concerns about the district operations

• although attorney's saw it as a strong discrimination case and termination without just cause, Huttinger had already secured a job and didn't pursue a lawsuit

• this matter came to hearing on October 20 and 21, 2021

• Appellant alleges that she was reprimanded, reduced in hours worked and terminated from her substitute school bus driver position in retaliation for her reporting of safety issues

• a witness testifying at the hearing was Board of Education President Denise Piovarchy

• the transportation supervisor, Karen Galdun rebuffed Mackey, who felt dismissed by the encounter between them

• Mackey next expressed her concerns to the Board of Education via email

• one member, Ken Barco, took interest in Mackey's allegations

• his response incensed Board President Piovarchy, who insisted that the chain of command be followed, and that Mackey was wrong for attempting to communicate with the Board of Education at all

• Piovarchy reprimanded Mackey in a two-page letter for reporting perceived safety hazards directly to the Board of Education

• Board President Piovarchy, and the Board of Education by extension, discriminated against Mackey by admonishing her for communication directly with the Board of Education about safety hazards

• Piovarchy's strict rejection of an open-door policy cannot be tolerated under R.C. 4167.13

• the district's chain of command policy, as applied by Piovarchy in the form of a reprimand, acted to discriminate against Mackey

• Mackey's firing was substantially motivated by her PERRP complaint and her other complaints about safety and health to the Board of Education

• rightly or wrongly, Mackey's style of interaction with the District angered, offended, and annoyed Supt. Harrison and Board of Education President Piovarchy, even though they each deny it

Pauleva Huttinger Board Candidate

Have you heard the one about....