Elmont school district under fire

An Elmont Schools employee is suing the district, alleging sex-discrination for a series of e-mails that made the rounds in the district office earlier this year. The case, which was filed in federal court, could take as long as a year to be resolved as both the district and their accuser try and work their way through the federal system.

According to published reports, Karen Filippi, an Elmont accounts clerk, is suing the district, saying she was retaliated against for complaining about what she said was an offensive e-mail and video that made the rounds through the district’s offices.

The video, which some Elmont officials believed revolved around a “slap your boss day,” some news outlets have reported as “slap your co-worker day.”

Regardless of what the subject matter is, school officials say they have done nothing wrong, and that the court case will be decided in their favor once all is said and done.

Colum Nugent, the school district’s attorney, said that while he cannot comment on matters involving personell, he and the district’s leaders are confident that no one in their employ acted inappropriately.

“We are precluded from commenting on personell matters, but as I’ve stated before, the district did not act in an inappropriate manner with regard to the subject employee.”

Elmont Superintendent Al Harper could not be reached for comment, but Elmont Board of Education President Frank Ragona said that it is the firm policy of the district to put safety and comfort first when it comes to employee interation in the workplace.

“We follow all proper protocols when it comes to employee comfort and dealing with offensive materials in the workplace,” Ragona said. “We will always support that. It’s something that’s paramount for us.”

Ultimately, Nugent said, the district would do most of their talking in the courtroom.

“It is the preference of the district to address matters such as this in court, rather than in the public forum,” he said.

Neither Filippi, nor her lawyer, Stephen Morelli, returned multiple calls for comment as of Herald press time.

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