www.montereycountyweekly.com december 28, 2023-January 3, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 In late 2019, a woman landed a job as a substitute custodian for Carmel Unified School District. The work took her from school to school, and she hoped to land a permanent position. In January of 2022, she got a full-time job on the night shift, from 2-11pm, at Carmel Middle School. For two years, according to a lawsuit she filed as Jane Doe in Monterey County Superior Court on Oct. 26, the woman endured sexual advances and comments from two lead custodians, Roel Martinez and Gustavo Alvarado. This included physical touching— Martinez spanking her buttocks while she was bent over sweeping—and comments, such as “Are you in a relationship?” from Alvarado, the lawsuit alleges. Because she hoped to be hired on full-time, she never complained. By February 2022, “she felt unsafe and that she could no longer endure the harassment silently.” So she went to speak to the director of facilities, who promised the issue would be dealt with by HR, the lawsuit states. But two months passed. Instead of a resolution, Jane Doe began to receive negative reports from Alvarado, her supervisor. Eight months later, she was called to meet with the district’s HR director, Craig Chavez. She thought it would be about harassment—instead, she learned she was being terminated. Another lawsuit filed by another Jane Doe on Oct. 4 lays out sexual harassment claims against Martinez. In this case, the woman has worked for over 24 years as a custodian for CUSD. She never made a complaint, but eventually, in 2020, a coworker observed and reported Martinez’s conduct toward Jane Doe. By January 2022, Doe reported the ongoing harassment to Chavez. Martinez was reassigned from the high school to Carmel River Elementary— and eventually, in June 2023, he was paid $100,000 by CUSD and retired. “The common denominator in these cases has been the HR Department’s lack of properly dealing with this,” says James Fitzpatrick, the attorney representing both Jane Does. “When you don’t, it empowers bullies to act inappropriately.” CUSD’s attorneys have denied all allegations in court papers; Martinez and Alvarado could not be located by the Weekly, and their attorneys have not yet filed a response. District officials declined to be interviewed, citing district policy on pending litigation. In a separate case filed on Dec. 11, Fitzpatrick is representing a third Jane Doe, who worked as an administrative assistant at Carmel Valley High School. She claims Principal Tom Parry made repeated sexual comments in 2021, and she told him to stop. She eventually called Chavez to file a complaint; she left a voicemail, and according to the lawsuit, he did not return her call. In 2022, she was transferred to a position in the district office. (Parry was not immediately available to comment.) All three Jane Does are seeking at least $25,000 in court, but Fitzpatrick says that is not the point. “The women feel empowered,” he says. “Finally, they’re being heard. They are hopeful that this subject being out in the open will result in changes.” Silent Treatment Three lawsuits allege a pattern of ignoring sexual harassment against staff at Carmel Unified. By Sara Rubin Jason Remynse became the new president of the board of Carmel Unified School District in December. CUSD faces three sexual harassment lawsuits from current and former employees. NEWS “The women feel empowered. Finally, they’re being heard.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Two Portola Plaza | Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 649-4511 | Portolahotel.com $220 General | $195 Active Military per person Available now through Eventbrite | 21+ event Sunday | december 31 TICKETS STUDIO AT PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA NYE 2024
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