Manchester Schools Wanted 'Rainbow' Supporters Gone, Ex-Staffer Alleges In Lawsuit

MANCHESTER, NJ — A former school psychologist for the Manchester Township Schools has filed a lawsuit against the district alleging anti-LGBTQ bias led to her contract not being renewed.

The lawsuit filed by Morgan Capezzera in late May against the district, the Manchester Township Board of Education and Superintendent Diane Pedroza, alleges she was targeted for supporting diversity and inclusion policies and its former superintendent, John Berenato.

It is the fourth lawsuit alleging anti-LGBTQ bigotry in the district. All four lawsuits can be found at the bottom of this article.

Capezzera alleges she was subjected to and witnessed "bigoted intolerance, harassment and maltreatment of those persons protected under the NJLAD (whether as members of the LGBTQIA2S+, Orthodox Jewish, Hispanic, multi-lingual learners from various national origins)," was attacked "for having openly associated herself with a District administration led by John Beranato," according to the lawsuit.

"The Manchester Township School District cannot provide any comment or information regarding pending litigation," district spokeswoman Dina Silvestri said Monday.

Berenato was superintendent from February 2022 until he was fired by the school board on Nov. 7, 2023 in the wake of a lawsuit filed by Whiting Elementary Principal Evelyn Swift, who had alleged Berenato harassed her and tried to force her to retire.

Berenato filed a lawsuit in May 2024 alleging he was fired because he is gay.

Since then, three former administrators hired by Berenato and let go after his departure have filed lawsuits, including Capezzera. Bridget Antonucci, the district's former special services director, filed her lawsuit in September 2024, and Lori Burns, who directed the district's preschool program, filed in October 2024 alleging her contract was not renewed because of her support for inclusive policies.

All three have alleged the district, the school board and Pedroza were driven by bias rooted in conservative Christian beliefs to remove Berenato and the three administrators.

The district "began a campaign to remove Administrators and employees ... whom they perceived to bleed 'rainbow,' " ... "to effect their goal of return(ing) the district to one that bled 'blue and gold,' " Capezzera's lawsuit said.

Capezzera also alleges a letter from Pedroza detailing the reasons her contract was not renewed slanders her and contains lies about her performance. In the letter, Pedroza says Capezzera was accused by parents of being abrasive and unprofessional in meetings with them; of failing to "invite appropriate staff" to child study team meetings, and of failing to accurately complete and confirm testing modifications in IEPs "in a timely manner, hindering testing coordinators from completing testing schedules," among other issues.

Court records show Berenato's attorneys filed a motion on July 1 seeking to consolidate the four lawsuits into one case. A decision on that motion is not anticipated until Aug. 1.

Swift's lawsuit, meanwhile, was resolved through mediation and dismissed in November 2024.

Previous reporting:

• Superintendent Harassed Me, Tried To Force Me To Retire: Manchester Principal's Lawsuit
• Manchester Superintendent Fired; Interim Appointed
• Ex-Superintendent's Lawsuit Alleges Manchester School Board Fired Him Because He's Gay
• Ex-Special Services Director Alleges Discrimination In Suit Against Manchester Schools
• 'Poisoned By Bigotry': 3rd Suit Alleges Anti-LGBTQ Bias By Manchester Superintendent, BOE