News

Ex-Business Manager files complaint
Maine Human Rights Commission to investigate McDonnell's complaint
By Elizabeth Prata

Gray--Former Business and Finance Director Brian McDonnell has lodged a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission against the #MSAD 15 School Board, former Superintendent Michael Wood and current Superintendent Victoria Burns.

McDonnell was dismissed from his post in November 2003 for a variety of charges, including insubordination with repeated defiance and disrespect to the Superintendent, unethical behavior including opening a personal America Online account using the District's credit card and opening an account at Sherwin-Williams in Windham in the District's name, solely for his personal use, sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior including receiving, maintaining, and storing pornographic images on his District computer, among many other findings and conclusions. The former superintendent and current Superintendent had advised McDonnell as to his comportment and performance and was expected to make specific changes by August 14, 2003. He failed to do so.

The Board thus stated in November, "McDonnell's motives were to seek personal advantage and not dictated by the best interests of the district." The findings and conclusions were rendered after the MSAD 15 Board of Directors and legal representation heard 18 hours of testimony during several executive sessions. The subsequent vote to dismiss McDonnell was 10-0-1, with Board member Dawn Bailey abstaining.

Maine Human Rights Commissioner Pat Ryan told The Monument that since McDonnell's complaint is open and under investigation she could offer no specifics about the complaint's contents, except to confirm its existence.

The types of complaints investigated by the Maine Human Rights Commission include complaints of unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, education, access to public accommodations, extension of credit, and offensive names. The Commission attempts to resolve complaints of discrimination to the mutual satisfaction of those who are involved.

Ryan said the five Commissioners will investigate the validity of McDonnell's grievance by taking interrogatories, interviewing witnesses, and giving opportunity for the MSAD to answer. Then they will determine how best to proceed. If they deem that they have sufficient material to render a decision, they will do so at that point. If more information is needed, they may conduct further interviews or go to fact finding.

Ultimately, they will make a recommendation as to whether the complaint has reasonable grounds or doesn't, and they will issue their decision in a report.

"The time frame for each case varies," Ryan said. "On average, a case, from its filing to a decision generally takes nine months. It could take less time, or more, depending on how much information is needed to reach the decision making stage," Ryan said.

Superintendent Burns said, "The district's attorneys have responded to the claim and we are waiting to hear the ruling. Because the Human Rights Act requires that complaints and information remains confidential while the case is open, I can give no information on this matter."

McDonnell did not answer The Monument's request for comment.