San Marino Unified’s school board rejected claims longtime board member Chris Norgaard filed last week, alleging district officials have smeared his reputation by publicly disclosing a sexual harassment investigation into his conduct, during a special board meeting on Tuesday.
Norgaard, through a draft lawsuit his attorney has forwarded to the district, says that investigation and another by San Marino police, came up empty, but still district officials continue to label him a problem. He’s currently not allowed on school campuses without giving 48 hours’ notice.
Tuesday’s decision to reject his claim — which can serve as precursor to a lawsuit, was approved 4-0; Norgaard recused himself. No one from the public showed up to the meeting to comment. Norgaard has been on the board since 2003.
A statement issued by the board after the meeting said: “The Board of Education’s first and foremost duty and responsibility is to the district it serves and is deeply disappointed by Mr. Norgaard’s claim against the district.”
The statement said Superintendent Alex Cherniss and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Linda de la Torre, who were both named in the claims, “intend to vigorously defend against his accusations.”
The board said it could not offer more details because the case is an active legal matter.
Norgaard’s attorney Guy Glazier said in a statement Wednesday that neither he nor Norgaard had been informed of the district’s action, “but rather continue to hear District commentary only through the press.”
“In today’s climate, obviously the actions of the superintendent and assistant superintendent had far-reaching and devastating consequences to Mr. Norgaard, consequences for which the District, Dr. Cherniss, and Ms. de la Torre must be held accountable,” Glazier said.
In his claims, Norgaard alleged the superintendent and head of human resources defamed him when the district announced in January that Norgaard was being investigated by the school district for sexual harassment and by the police department for battery.
Although those investigations have since been closed, Norgaard is under investigation yet again, for allegedly harassing and threatening employees, according to his claim against SMUSD. But the way Norgaard tells it, the district never had any complaints against him or any evidence that he ever harassed anyone.
Glazier said previously in an email he has seen a report that was commissioned by the district, which supports the allegation that SMUSD fabricated the complaints against Norgaard.
After Norgaard submitted his first claim to the district on April 23, Cherniss issued a statement calling his accusation “irresponsible” and saying it may “subject him to claims for malicious prosecution.”
According to Norgaard, that statement led him to file an amended claim which he submitted to the district Monday. In the amended claim, Glazier characterized Cherniss’ reaction statement as “false and malicious.”
The board reiterated Tuesday that the complaints against Norgaard were real:
“The Board of Education received statements from employees regarding alleged harassment and inappropriate conduct by school board member Chris Norgaard,” the statement said. “Based on the information provided and on the advice of counsel, the district was advised that the law requires that such allegations must be taken seriously and investigated regardless of who is accused, even a school board member.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify the source of the board’s statement and to provide comment from Norgaard’s attorney.
