A former administrative assistant for the Mineola School District has filed a lawsuit seeking at least $7 million in damages against Mineola School Superintendent Dr. Larry Licopoli, deputy superintendent Dr. Michael Nagler and the school district. The employee alleges the two top school officials created a hostile work environment.

The employee, Ulana Illiano of Mineola, worked in the district from September 1999 until June 30, 2007, first as a substitute clerical employee and then as an administrative assistant to Licopoli.

The complaint against Licopoli, Nagler and the Mineola School District, filed in U.S. District Court by Illiano's attorney, Harry Weinberg of Manhattan, alleges that Nagler made sexually offensive and unwanted and unwelcome comments and Licopoli consistently made comments about Jews and Jewish holidays that were offensive to the plaintiff. The complaint also alleges Nagler and Licopoli referred to former assistant superintendent Shari Camhi in a derogatory manner that insulted her religion and sex.

According to Illiano, Licopoli and Nagler created a sexually and religiously hostile work environment. "It was always a horrendous atmosphere in the office," she said. "There were many incidences through the years...There was always an underlying tone of intimidation and fear that runs through that building. That's how they keep control over things."

According to Licopoli's lawyer, Rick Ostrove of the Carle Place law firm Leeds Morelli & Brown, the allegations that Licopoli made derogatory comments about Jews are nonsense and there was no hostile work environment present in the superintendent's office. Ostrove said Illiano and Licopoli maintained a friendly working relationship and points to several inter-office emails that were sent by Illiano to Licopoli from 2005 to 2007.

Said Ostrove, "I am in possession of a series of emails spanning 2005 to 2007 reflecting that Ms. Illiano was fond of Superintendent Licopoli. For example, Ms. Illiano specifically said about Licopoli: 'I know that you always have my best interest in mind and that is a comfort to me, I hope everyone realizes that about you,' (Dec. 27, 2005) 'in giving me that extra money, you made me feel that you appreciate all my efforts as your secretary. I really appreciate that and I wanted to let you know', (Oct. 27, 2005) 'I love my job and I am very grateful for it. I thank you for the opportunities you have given me' (Nov. 22, 2005). These emails directly contradict Ms. Illiano's claims that Licopoli subjected her to a 'hostile work environment' and to 'mistreatment and systematic harassment.'"

The complaint also alleges that Licopoli intercepted an email Illiano sent, via her private email, to Camhi, complaining of Nagler. According to the complaint, Licopoli gave Illiano three choices - apologize to Nagler, resign or be fired. The complaint then alleges that Licopoli hand wrote a resignation letter and coerced her into signing it and, as a result, Illiano left the district on June 30, 2007.

Illiano said she was writing Camhi an email complaining about the environment in the office. "They [Licopoli and Nagler] were very angry about it and they decided to pretty much just dispose of me through harassment to the point where they broke me. I couldn't take it anymore. They called me in on a daily basis. They made threats against my daughter, against my character," she said. "I really tried to do what was right and the board chose to do nothing. Now, this is my act of last resort and I intend to follow it through to the end because it's the right thing to do."

Despite the claims of being harassed, Illiano did not make the board of education aware of the alleged actions of the superintendent and deputy superintendent because, she said, she was told she wouldn't get a recommendation for another job. "He [Licopoli] had me over a barrel," she said. "It's such a mentally horrifying atmosphere in there that the minute you are released from it, you start seeing that what goes on here is wrong."

Illiano said she called each board member individually after she left the district. "My intention was to handle this matter discreetly and quietly in the hopes that the board would do the right thing and they have chosen, in the face of all of these statements they have, to ignore everything they found out and it's just appalling. These are people in my neighborhood...I guess I was being naïve because I thought they would do what was right in the end," she said.

Ostrove, Licopoli's attorney, however, said the email referred to in the complaint was sent, by the plaintiff's mistake, to Camhi's Mineola School District email, which was no longer active. It, therefore, was forwarded to the school district's email Help Desk, which made Licopoli aware of the email. Ostrove said Licopoli tried to help her with the matter, but she ultimately quit her job with the district. "What she [Illiano] and her attorney are doing is a disgrace. This is all about trying to extract money at the district's expense. I pray that this school district doesn't succumb to these scare tactics that are based only on lies and they don't give this woman a penny," he said.

The complaint also alleges that Nagler gave preferential treatment to his administrative assistant on the basis of her physical appearance. Illiano said the administrative assistant was hired while she was on vacation at the same salary even though Illiano claims she had more experience and education. Illiano said when she went to Licopoli to complain, she was given a $50 a year raise. "The thing that sent me over the edge is I dared to speak about it in an email to a friend. That was the end of me," she said.

Nagler's lawyer, Paul Callan of Manhattan, believes his client is innocent of all the accusations made by the plaintiff. "The allegations against Dr. Nagler are a pack of lies by a disgruntled former employee who's trying to make a lot of money. It's a real shame to see Dr. Nagler, who has a reputation for impeccable integrity, have his reputation besmirched by these false claims," he said.

The Mineola Board of Education, in a letter to the community on the district's website, stated, "These claims are, in the opinion of all named parties, without merit, and we are confident that the district will prevail against this attempt to discredit and shame hardworking professionals, and volunteers on the board of education. We can assure you that our board of education will respond appropriately and forcefully to this matter."

Among Illiano's accusations against her former boss is that Licopoli intentionally manipulated the hiring process in 2005 when the board of education decided to hire a deputy superintendent, so that Nagler would be hired. The process involved an interview committee and according to the complaint, the two candidates being considered for the position were Nagler, the former principal of Mineola High School, and Stephen Lando.

The complaint states Lando received more favorable ratings than Nagler but the "plaintiff witnessed Licopoli tampering with and changing the ratings that had been placed on the forms by members of the interview committee to fraudulently convey the impression that Nagler had actually received a more favorable rating than Lando."

Ostrove denied the claim, saying that his client only simplified the ratings. "Superintendent Licopoli has a long career as an exceptional performer. He has done wonderful things for this school district. It is outrageous that Ms. Illiano is willing to tarnish his fine reputation in her feeble attempt to extract settlement money which, if paid, will be taken right out of the school's budget," he said.

At the February 7 meeting of the Mineola Board of Education, the board was expected to vote on the tenure for Dr. Nagler for the deputy superintendent's position. However, the board did not vote in light of the circumstances.

District resident Debbie Donavan, who was present at the Feb. 7 meeting of the board of education, said she was speechless when she saw a copy of the lawsuit at the meeting. "I'm still puzzled by the whole thing. It's kind of disappointing. But I don't want to portray them [Licopoli and Nagler] as guilty. We don't know that. That is what the accusations are and let the courts determine that," she said. "But if there's any validity at all to any of this, what harm is it to have it [the vote on Nagler's tenure] held off until the case has either been determined or dismissed?"