Woodland Hills Superintendent Joe Maluchnik pushed back on claims made by some of the district’s own staff during what was at times a tense hearing session held in front of the school board, which voted to fire him.
Maluchnik appealed that decision, leading to the courtroom-style hearing, which has been held over the course of five nights, spread across multiple weeks. Maluchnik is accused of engaging in gender-based discrimination and harassment. He argued on Thursday that he treated both men and women the same.
The evening featured closing arguments, which followed the first testimony of Maluchnik. It grew tense when school district solicitor Matthew Racunas began questioning Maluchnik, with a style that contrasted with the district-appointed lawyer who had asked most of the questions for the district, Allison Genard…