Manhattan D114 Teacher Under Investigation Won't Have Contract Renewed: Board

MANHATTAN, IL — A Manhattan District 114 teacher currently on paid leave amidst internal and police investigations will not have his contract renewed, the Manhattan District 114 Board of Education voted on Wednesday.

The physical education teacher at Manhattan Jr. High was placed on leave last week, after being escorted off school property following allegations he had violated district policy. Two days later, he was also under investigation by Manhattan Police to determine if the allegations warrant criminal charges. Manhattan Police Chief Ryan Gulli said he expects that investigation to conclude by week's end, with findings to come promptly.

District officials have remained tight-lipped on the details surrounding the incident, and at the March 12 Board of Education meeting, board members faced rebuke from parents calling for action and transparency.

"I’m here tonight to ask that for the first time in about a year, you handle a difficult situation correctly," said Katie Pavur, addressing the board.

Parent Kim Russell also pressed the board for more information, saying the events have shaken her faith in district leadership.

"First and foremost I would like to know how safe my children are with the conditions and the things that have been taking place within the school within the last 10 days," Russell said. "I’d also like to know moving forward, how are we ever going to know what is going on, when things are going to take place, when it is going to be reported to the community and the parents, and the families. I’m at such a loss. I’m really shaken, I really am."

Led by Board Vice President Emily Wesel standing in for President John Burke, the board voted unanimously in favor of not renewing the contract of an employee listed as a Manhattan Jr. High physical education teacher on the district's website. As detailed in a copy of the employee's contract obtained by Patch via Freedom of Information Act request, that employee's contract was up for renewal at the end of the current school year. Patch does not name someone under investigation unless or until they are formally charged. Sources close to the incident have confirmed the teacher's identity to Patch.

Wednesday's decision follows the events that unfolded a week prior, with district officials initially stating that the teacher was placed on paid leave immediately following allegations that his conduct had violated policy. Official details have been sparse, but speculation raged early on, as parents took to community social media pages to commiserate, and criticize district leadership. The teacher's identity and circumstances leading to the disciplinary action appeared clear to many, though not publicly disclosed by administration.

A statement issued by the district a week ago told parents an investigation would be conducted "so we can decide on appropriate next steps.

"The safety and well-being of our students are always paramount in our District," Superintendent Ron Pacheco wrote to parents, "and we will remain vigilant to proactively address any concerns that are brought to our attention."

Separately alluding to ongoing expenditures as the district battles out two lawsuits involving sexual harassment and discrimination complaints among its own leadership, Russell decried the board for its secretive nature and legal spending.

In the most recent allegations against the district, former employee Susana Lukaszek filed suit in December 2024, alleging that she had endured a "severe and pervasive hostile work environment" created in part by a sexual relationship between former Superintendent Russell "Rusty" Ragon and Director of HR Chris Ruddy. It alleges some board members were aware of the happenings and efforts made to conceal it.

"It just seems to me like there’s just so much hidden stuff that I have concerns about," she said. "Things that are very suspicious that are going on, and us taxpayers have to pay for the things that are taking place behind the scenes of all the lawsuits that have been filed. My family comes from a lot of disabilities, and it sure would be nice if that money would go toward my kids, instead of lawsuits of people that aren’t being held accountable, that did disgusting things in our school."

<< READ ALSO: Superintendent Made Sexual Advances To Ex-Manhattan Schools Staffer, Lawsuit Alleges >>

Ahead of discussion and a closed session to determine employment action for the teacher, Pavur said she wondered how consistently policies are enforced, in light of the district's ongoing legal woes.

"A policy issue? I question why a teacher would be put on paid leave if it is just a policy violation," Pavur said. "Our board members have violated the sexual harassment policy, and they are still sitting there, actively involved. Which policies are enforced, and for whom? And will that be another lawsuit?

Pavur also demanded clarity on action taken as follow-up to other, possible similar situations.

"Is there a protocol for particular situation like this, and will you share the district plan of what happens when a student reports something like this?" she said. "There is a plan, right? The public deserves transparency, not on the details of the investigation, but on the steps that the district takes when this happens. ... Our teachers deserve to know that these policies will be enforced for them and the administration.

"We could potentially have a criminal situation, and it took the district two days to contact the police? If that’s the case, what are you doing, and what will be the fallout from that. Please, for once, do the right thing by our district and our kids, and please don’t waste any more district funds. Keep our kids safe. Bad leadership trickles down. Stop the flood you have created this last year.”

Following the vote and other employment action taken, Wesel applauded the board.

"I'd like to say, that this is a hard job, and I want to just thank everyone for being here tonight," Wesel said. "This is just a hard thing... "