Secretary
sues her bosses
Alleges discrimination.
Wheelchair-bound woman cites inequality, harassment at Brass
Castle School.
Wednesday, December 21, 205 • By SARA LEITCH •
The Express-Times
WASHINGTON TWP. | A Brass Castle School
secretary who uses a wheelchair is suing the board of
education, saying she is being harassed and discriminated
against by the school's superintendent and
principal.
Robin Giorlando has worked with the
township school district's child study team since 1989. She
has used a wheelchair since she was 4 years old because of
an autoimmune disease called juvenile dermatomyositis that
weakens muscles and skin.
In her suit, Giorlando claims she has
become the victim of discrimination and harassment by
Superintendent Janet Razze and Principal Keith Neuhs, who
was the principal at the township's Port Colden School until
July.
Giorlando and her attorney declined to
comment Tuesday. School officials did not return calls for
comment.
The school district has filed an answer
to Giorlando's suit, said attorney Howard Mankoff, who is
handling the case for the school district.
"She alleges she's been discriminated
against because of her handicap. The board certainly denies
that," Mankoff said.
Giorlando says that in July, she asked
for a key to the school so she could bring a new motorized
scooter in and out of the building. In her suit, Giorlando
claims she was told she couldn't have a key because it would
be a Homeland Security risk, though outside vendors and
custodial staff had keys.
Giorlando also alleges numerous requests
for ramps to be put in the one-story school building have
been ignored, leaving her with limited options to enter and
exit the building.
In addition, Giorlando says she was told
she could not use the job title of "administrative
assistant" because the title was not approved, though
Razze's stationary lists her secretary as an administrative
assistant.
Giorlando also says that, shortly after
school began this fall, Neuhs challenged her about her
decade-long habit of working from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
instead of from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. She says Razze also sent
her a letter reminding her that her contract states her
hours as from 8 to 4. Giorlando's suit claims she depends on
other people to bring her to and from work and can't stay
any later because of their schedules.
Finally Giorlando, who earns $34,107 a
year, alleges she is paid less than other secretaries who
have not worked for the board of education as long as she
has and do not have a comparable educational
background.
According to Giorlando, the
superintendent's secretary, who has been with the district
one year longer than Giorlando, earns $9,000 more a year.
Two other secretaries who have been there a decade less earn
almost the same amount as she does.
In her suit, Giorlando asks for
compensatory and punitive damages. She doesn't specify an
amount.
Reporter Sara Leitch can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by
e-mail at sleitch@express-times.com.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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