1 School Official Is Fired, 2 Demoted in Sex Harassment Case

ORANGE — Trustees of the Orange Unified School District have voted to fire one top administrator and demote two others after an investigation of sexual harassment allegations, district sources said Tuesday.

After more than four hours in closed session, the board voted 7 to 0 Thursday night to terminate the contract of Deputy Supt. Richard L. Donoghue, 48, sources close to the investigation said. Donoghue was accused of inappropriately touching employees, distributing lewd materials and using sexually offensive language in the workplace, the sources confirmed.

The board, acting on recommendations by interim Supt. Marilyn Corey, also voted 4 to 3 to demote Chief Fiscal Officer Joyce Capelle to a lower position in the finance department, the sources said. Capelle, 39, is accused of tolerating sexual banter in the workplace.

The board also voted to demote Howard Mason, 45, director of maintenance operations and transportation, the sources said. The investigation by the school district’s attorney and her staff included a third unidentified employee, which sources revealed Tuesday as Mason. The sources, however, would not reveal the nature of allegations against him.

“I’m really taken (aback) by the whole thing,” Mason said Tuesday night. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

Mason, who declined further comment, served as a consultant to several other school districts before being hired by Orange Unified about three years ago.

Donoghue and Capelle did not return phone calls.

Dale Gronemeier, the attorney representing the administrators, said the three plan to appeal the board’s action. They have five days from the time they receive notification of the board’s action to request a hearing, according to school policy.

If Mason and Capelle lose their appeal, their demotions would mean less pay.

Donoghue was officially notified of the board’s action Monday afternoon, and Capelle was officially told Tuesday, Gronemeier said. Mason has yet to be served with official allegations from the district, Gronemeier said.

Gronemeier said it has been a top priority to protect his clients’ privacy, but that he may have to reconsider that in light of Tuesday’s disclosures.

“Now that there have been further leaks, I think we have to evaluate whether or not we will now be forced to defend ourselves in a public forum,” Gronemeier said.

Although he did not detail the allegations against his clients, Gronemeier said the “charges are thinner than toilet paper.”

Gronemeier, who began representing Mason in late November, would not comment on allegations against the transportation and maintenance director.

Board members contacted Tuesday refused to comment on last week’s closed session, citing a policy of not talking about personnel matters.

Corey and attorney Mary Jo McGrath, who heads the district’s investigation, both were unavailable for comment.

Donoghue and Capelle have filed a $20-million lawsuit against the district, the district’s attorneys, Corey and an unnamed board member. The suit alleges defamation, invasion of privacy and breach of contract. It accuses district officials of instigating the investigation to retaliate against Donoghue and Capelle for imposing cost-saving measures.

Corey placed the administrators on temporary paid leave, what school officials termed “home assignment,” on Nov. 23 pending completion of the investigation. Capelle was allowed to return to work last week, but Donoghue continues to be barred from working at school headquarters.