OPUSD employee sues for discrimination, harassment

A former Oak Park Unified School District (OPUSD) employee, Judy Galanter, is suing the district for religious discrimination and harassment.

After more than three months of employment as food services bookkeeper, Galanter’s employment was terminated. The district gave no explanation for her removal, according to Galanter, which led her to believe that her Jewish religion was a factor.

Galanter started work under the direction of OPUSD Food Services Director Virginia Leigh on March 1, 2000. The district terminated Galanter’s employment on June 12, 2000. But Galanter is convinced she was let go because of her religious beliefs and because of her responses, she said, to anti-Semitic remarks she allegedly heard during her brief employment under Leigh.

According to Galanter’s lawsuit, Leigh frequently referred to "those Jews" and Jews being "money grubbing" in front of Galanter. Galanter said she protested to Leigh about her remarks and other racial slurs, and said Leigh made the workplace a hostile environment.

But Leigh didn’t let up, Galanter said. She told Galanter anti-Semitic jokes, which got more offensive in late April when Passover was observed.

Leigh knew that Galanter was Jewish, Galanter said, but Leigh made the remarks anyway.

After Galanter’s three-month probationary period, according to Galanter’s court documents, the district never gave her an evaluation in accordance with written district governing board policy. But that policy also states, according to OPUSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Bob Fraser, that classified employees (Galanter’s category) have a six-month probationary period.

Galanter didn’t respond to questioning because the case was in litigation, she said, and therefore couldn’t explain her understanding of the probationary period.

On June 12, Leigh sent a letter to Galanter stating that Galanter’s services would no longer be required. Galanter said she immediately called Fraser.

Fraser told her, she said, that she had a right to appeal her termination.

On July 11, 2000, Galanter filed religious discrimination, harassment and retaliation charges with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Fraser later wrote Galanter, she said, stating that she had no right to appeal because of her probationary status.

Since then, according to Galanter’s lawsuit, neither Fraser nor anyone from the district has spoken with Galanter about her allegation. In Fraser’s letter to Galanter, Galanter said, it stated that an investigation would take place. No such action occurred, according to Galanter.

"I’m not trying to be coy, but I can’t speak now," Fraser said, when asked about the lawsuit. With the case still in litigation, he said, he could only respond at a later unspecified date, he said.

As a result of the incidents, Galanter has suffered, according to her lawsuit, from humiliation, alienation, emotional distress, embarrassment and mental anguish. She seeks compensation.

The amount would be determined at the end of the trial, if the court rules favorably for Galanter.