Investigation finds D86 board member's comments "mean spirited" but not bullying

HINSDALE – A report given to the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education May 18 said that board member Claudia Manley's interaction with Hinsdale South High School student Marissa DuPont did not constitute bullying.

[ The DuPont family had filed a complaint against Manley, claiming she had bullied Marissa during a dispute March 12 about whether the student was allowed to distribute campaign literature outside the school before a school play. ]

Based on interviews with witnesses at the scene, investigators determined that Manley's remarks to DuPont were "mean-spirited and rude but do not establish a pattern of harassment."

The board voted to confirm the results of the investigation, though Manley and board member Ed Corcoran voted no.

District 86 Board President Kay Gallo said the board would discuss whether any further action would need to be taken as a result of the investigation.

Manley said she was happy that the report found she did not bully DuPont, but still questioned the accuracy of the report.

"Much of what I heard in that report was untrue," she said.

[ Manley previously released a statement giving her side of the interaction with the student, which can be read here. ]

She said the investigators did not talk to a couple of witnesses she had offered to them.

Manley, along with her husband, Noel, had asked for a surveillance video from the school be released to the public to better show what happened during the incident.

According to the report, the video was of limited use because there was no audio. Investigators were able to see that Manley talked to DuPont for about two minutes at the end of the incident and took a couple of steps towards her.

The report said that the duration of the conversation was not enough time for Manley's remarks to rise to the level of harassment.

The report said that interviewees told investigators that Manley told DuPont that her actions were unfair to fellow students, including Manley's daughter, who was performing in the play that night.

Manley told DuPont she was "a disappointment and should be ashamed" and called her a bully, according to the report.

Before the board announced the findings of the investigation, Corcoran said he believed the case should be dismissed because it was not the board's place to be hearing the case.

"I don't believe that our school district is the place or forum of these hearings," he said.

Board member Bill Carpenter disagreed, saying the board's actions were within the bounds of the uniform grievance process.

"I think in an effort to get closure with this, we should move forward with this," he said.