Demoted Secretary Not Chosen for Former Position After Re-Interviewing

Melanie Walsh will not regain the student services secretary position she held for about three months, until she was forced to accept a demotion or be terminated.

Walsh was among three final candidates for the reopened secretary position, after she took her old job back and reapplied. Shortly after she was demoted, the Illinois Federation of Teachers filed grievances against the district, as well as an unfair labor practice claim.

Now that legal process – which could cost the district an estimated $100,000 – will move forward with arbitration.

“That means (the school board) is consciously making a decision to continue with the litigation process,” IFT Field Services Director Deneen Pajeau said Wednesday. “The grievances have been submitted for arbitration and there is still a pending unfair labor practice charge.”

Walsh worked for as a paraprofessional for 15 years before she sought a promotion to the secretary position. The school board originally approved her assuming the position, but she was then told on Sept. 21 that the board was dissatisfied with hiring process. As a result she was given two options: go back to her parapro job or be .

Walsh went through four interviews for the position, in a process that differed from , Pajeau said. 

READ ON for more stories regarding Melanie Walsh’s employment and challenges to the board’s decision.

Since then little else has been said officially as to why she was demoted, and no indication of performances issues were ever cited.

Several sources told Patch that forcing Walsh out of the secretary job stems from her being related to Colleen Schultz, assistant superintendent of student services, and that board member Ann Gentile made the initial push.

On the Dec. 12 board meeting an office assistant hire was approved by the school board, though Gentile abstained from that vote.

Orland School District 135 board is expected to approve the choice for student services secretary at the Jan. 9 meeting.