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Tolleson district employee alleges retaliation and asks board for independent review
Summary
An administrative assistant in the district's nutrition services department said she reported months of bullying, harassment and retaliation by a direct supervisor and requested a third‑party investigation; the superintendent said HR would follow up and requested additional information after the speaker's public comment time ended.
During public comment Sade Rodriguez, who identified herself as an administrative assistant in the district nutrition services department, told trustees she had repeatedly reported what she described as retaliation, bullying and hostile conduct by her direct supervisor over a six‑month period and asked for an independent, third‑party review of the district's handling of the matter.
Rodriguez said the conduct included an incident on Nov. 3 in which the supervisor clenched a fist, raised her voice and yelled a directive, and that subsequent treatment included schedule changes and exclusion from communication she viewed as retaliatory. She said internal HR handling raised concerns because personnel reportedly involved in the events would also participate in reviewing the complaints.
"I am here today to formally present concerns I believe require serious and independent review," Rodriguez said in her two minutes of public comment (transcript excerpt). The superintendent interrupted to note the two‑minute limit and said HR or district leadership would follow up and requested additional documentation.
Superintendent Kayous told the board she would follow up with HR and asked staff to gather information; the public comment period ended before a formal investigative response was provided on the record. The superintendent and board members also noted time limits on public comment and asked HR to follow up with the speaker.
Why it matters: Employee allegations of workplace harassment and retaliation raise questions about internal complaint handling and whether an independent review is warranted. The speaker told trustees other employees had raised similar concerns or resigned from the same environment; the board asked for staff follow-up but did not announce a formal independent review on the record.
Next steps: Superintendent's office and HR were asked to follow up with the speaker and provide additional information to trustees outside the public comment time.
