Richardson ISD board denies level 3 grievance filed by Susan Hertzfeld

The Richardson ISD Board of Trustees voted 4-0 on March 30 to deny a level 3 grievance filed by Susan Hertzfeld and to uphold the district's earlier level 2 decision.

The chair moved that the board "deny the request for an additional apology letter, deny the request for monetary relief for disability claims as the record does not reflect disability based discrimination or retaliation, and that we deny the level 3 grievance and uphold the level 2 decision." The motion was seconded and carried by a 4-0 roll call, and the chair said the public vote constituted verbal notice of the board's decision.

The chair opened the meeting at 5:37 p.m. and announced that the grievance hearing would proceed. Because the employees named in the grievance did not consent to an open hearing, the board conducted the grievance portion in closed session under Texas Government Code section 551.074, which covers personnel matters. The board reconvened into open session at 7:10 p.m.; the chair stated, "No action was taken in closed session."

The chair added David Pate to the attendance record and identified him as the assistant superintendent for finance. The chair also said RISD's general counsel would follow up with written documentation of the board's decision to the grievant. The chair adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m.

The grievance had been filed under board policy GF Local and was designated grievance number 1. The transcript record shows the board concluded that the administrative record did not substantiate claims of disability-based discrimination or retaliation, and therefore denied requests for an apology letter and monetary relief and upheld the level 2 finding.