Farmers Weekly Review

By Stephanie Irvine

The Manhattan School District now faces another Civil Rights lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and discrimination.

Susana Lukaszek, the District’s former Payroll and Benefits Coordinator, filed her own suit against the District on December 9. She is demanding a jury trial.

Lukaszek’s suit names as defendants the Manhattan School Board, former Superintendent Russell “Rusty” Ragon, and Christine Ruddy, former Director of Human Resources, Professional Development, and Communication, alleging a litany of sexual propositions in cars, hotels and various other locations during the shared workday.

This new Civil Rights lawsuit comes just three months after Ruddy filed a Civil Rights lawsuit against the District, alleging that she was discriminated against when she was forced to resign from her position following the revelation of her sexual relationship with Ragon, whereas Ragon had been allowed to retire with benefits.

Unlike Ruddy, Lukaszek was not a participant in any sexual relations or misconduct and repeatedly rebuffed an onslaught of sexual requests from Ragon, according to her lawsuit.

Additionally, her suit states that Lukaszek, against her wishes, was subjected to being shown sexual photos of Ragon and Ruddy together, nude photos of Ragon, sexual banter, and hearing about Ragon’s “sexual escapades” with Ruddy and other women — and forced to keep it all a secret.

Some of the conversations alleged in the lawsuit include Ragon complaining about his wife sexually and then comparing Lukaszek to her.

The suit claims that when Lukaszek rejected Ragon’s constant sexual advances, Ragon promoted Ruddy to a new HR Director position that he “invented” at a substantially higher pay rate than what she was previously paid.

This promotion effectively passed over Lukaszek, who would’ve been more qualified for an HR Director position, the suit claims, and installed Ruddy as a direct supervisor over Lukaszek.

At the time of Ruddy’s promotion, Ragon was already involved in a sexual relationship with Ruddy, and the new position afforded the pair more opportunities to have sex, the lawsuit alleges.

Ruddy held that position until she resigned.

Another revelation alleged in the lawsuit was that Ragon used district dollars to pay Ruddy for her “romantic visits” to Ragon’s office prior to her start date in the new HR Director position.

Following a Freedom of Information request to obtain a record of any payments made to Ruddy within that time period, district officials responded there are no such documents.

The lawsuit also claims Ragon suggested that he and Lukaszek could loot the school district’s safe, meet in Florida, and split the money.

The Board is named as a defendant in the lawsuit for “failing to create a culture of accountability,” and two male board members are accused of making lewd comments and jokes. One such joke involved asking Lukaszek if she knew what an “Australian kiss” was, according to the lawsuit.

Citing an “intolerable work environment,” Lukaszek submitted a resignation notice on Nov. 8, 2022. In October 2023, she filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the EEOC.

When Lukaszek filed the EEOC complaint, Ragon began deleting evidence, and the board knew about it, the lawsuit states.

Also, the lawsuit alleges the board never raised the issue of Ragon and Ruddy’s affair in open or closed session.

Instead, the Board “ratified Ragon’s actions” after seeing the nudes, the lawsuit alleges, allowing Ragon to take two weeks of paid vacation prior to his resignation and affording him full retirement benefits, and giving Ruddy her vacation time before she resigned.

The School District quickly responded to a request for comment with a brief written statement from Board President John Burke.

Burke’s statement drew attention to the length of time from Lukaszek’s last day to her filing with the EEOC (nine months) and noted that Lukaszek never complained, nor did she raise concerns during her tenure. Burke quoted that Lukaszek wrote in her resignation letter that she would “cherish the bonds she made” as a contrast to the allegations.

“Once the EEOC charge was received, the Board promptly directed its legal counsel to begin an investigation into the former employee’s allegations to ensure that an appropriate workplace environment for all employees was maintained. As this matter is in litigation, the Board of Education will not be making further comment on the specifics of this case,” Burke’s statement read.

Alleged in the suit are constitutional violations, including that Ragon, Ruddy and the Board violated Lukaszek’s right to equal protection under the law, substantive due process, sexual harassment and deprivation of liberty. Another count lists the intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Lukaszek’s suit notes Ruddy alleges the same gender bias in the lawsuit she filed at the end of August.

Ruddy’s lawsuit is now in settlement talks, with a status deadline of December 16 for the parties to the suit to either continue settlement talks or make a decision. It remains to be seen if or how much taxpayers will have to pay to satisfy settlement demands if that is the resolution.

Lukaszek seeks declaratory relief, back pay and lost wages and benefits, full compensatory damages, punitive damages as permitted by law, attorneys’ fees and costs, and any other further relief as the Court deems appropriate.

A scheduling conference is set for March 17, 2026.

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.