The Mountain View Whisman School District will pay $350,000 each to two women who accused former superintendent Ayindé Rudolph of sexual harassment and discrimination. Board president Charles DiFazio announced the settlements after the board reconvened in open session. The payments resolve complaints raised during the final months of Rudolph’s nearly decade-long tenure.
The board approved the settlements unanimously in closed session, according to the Mountain View Voice. The complaints, brought by Megan Pohlman and Heidi Galassi in fall 2024, were listed on the closed-session agenda as anticipated litigation involving two cases. It remains unknown whether they were filed before or after Rudolph resigned that November.
Pohlman is principal at Stevenson Elementary School. Galassi was Graham Middle School principal from 2021 until she resigned in 2024, the Voice reports. Neither woman responded to a request for comment Thursday evening, and the district had not released the settlement agreements as of Thursday. Superintendent Jeff Baier said the documents would be available Friday, according to the Voice.
Board Vows Changes to Complaint Process
DiFazio did not describe the specific conduct alleged in the complaints. He said the district will change its employee complaint process so administrators no longer have to report harassment or discrimination allegations to the person accused or to someone who directly reports to that person, according to the Mountain View Voice.
An outside option for workplace complaints
Employees seeking help beyond their workplace may contact the California Civil Rights Department, which says it may investigate and help resolve complaints of workplace discrimination, harassment or retaliation. The department says an employment complaint intake form must generally be submitted within three years of the date the person was last harmed…