By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer Last updated: 6:09 p.m., Monday, April 19, 2010
SCHENECTADY -- A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court provides new information about the Civil Service Employees Association's alleged relationship with now convicted arsonist and former Schenectady schools facilities supervisor Steven Raucci, claiming that the union's Region 4 president, Kathleen Garrison, allowed Raucci to continue his reign because he helped get her elected.
Also, the suit claims, the CSEA moved to silence those who complained about Raucci and his unindicted co-conspirator, former Schenectady County CSEA President Joanne DeSarbo, by finding the critics guilty of misconduct and eventually expelling them from the union. Former Schenectady County Local 847 CSEA union heads Deborah and Harold Gray, Cynthia Chevalier and Darcy DeGeorgia filed the suit in federal court on April 15 asking for punitive damages and for the union to cease future local union elections until a judgment is found. The lawsuit did not include a dollar amount for the damages...................>>>>...................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=923101#ixzz0lbHRVUCu
Angry actions left legacy of fear Victims gave moving testimony about impact of Steven Raucci's crimes By Lauren Stanforth Staff Writer Published: 12:00 a.m., Friday, December 31, 2010
Gary DiNola looked like a man who could not easily be shaken.
Tall and broad shouldered, DiNola was the athletic director at Schenectady schools who had to remain strong for his three sons serving in the military.
But when he took the witness stand March 16 about the vandalism that Steven Raucci, the district's facilities director, perpetrated in November 2006, DiNola's calm facade cracked.
"It's terrified us," a tearful DiNola said of the morning he found a half-stick of dynamite on the windshield of his SUV at his Ballston Lake home. "It's changed our life," he said, trying to compose himself while answering questions from Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney. "I'm angry. You need to know that."
The victims of Raucci's vendettas brought to life a case that, before the courtroom testimony, could have been viewed as just a series of pranks by a narcissistic bully. No one was injured. But the choked words and tears from victims brought home the true nature of Raucci's crimes -- that fear is fear, no matter how seemingly small the act that triggers it.
DiNola angered Raucci simply because he kept asking for a locker room key for a track coach at Mont Pleasant Middle School. DiNola quickly learned that the city school district insulated Raucci, even promoted him and paid him tens of thousands of dollars in overtime, likely in exchange for Raucci keeping the unit of the CSEA union he led grievance-free.
That day on the witness stand, DiNola also read into the record an e-mail from Superintendent Eric Ely concerning the locker room key -- an e-mail sent to him one day before the vandalism at DiNola's house. "It will be a long cold winter and harsh spring unless this gets resolved," Ely wrote to DiNola, "You know the chain of command. Work through Steve."
This week, DiNola said only, "My family and I have really moved on, and we're looking forward to 2011."
Harold and Deborah Gray learned who else was protecting Raucci -- the CSEA. Raucci was still technically the district's head utility worker, which allowed him to remain the operations and maintenance unit's union president. But he was really the district's facilities manager, which made it a conflict of interest to be the boss of the union that represented his underlings. Raucci was convinced that Deborah Gray, secretary of the Schenectady County CSEA unit, sent an anonymous letter to the union's regional president, Kathy Garrison, about Raucci "torturing" members of his CSEA unit. The union never took any action....................>>>>............>>>>.........Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Angry-actions-left-legacy-of-fear-929476.php#ixzz19hI7zwdb
SCHENECTADY Raucci victim given $250K District agrees to settlement but admits no fault BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The first of Steven Raucci’s victims received some compensation from the Schenectady City School District Wednesday — but no apology. Ronald Kriss, who sued the district on allegations that Raucci had sexually and physically harassed him, will get $250,000 in a settlement with the district. It is the first of several expected settlements regarding Raucci’s treatment of school employees. Raucci was the district’s facilities manager at the time. The board’s resolution emphasized that the district did not admit any fault and was only approving the settlement to avoid a costly court case. Board President Cathy Lewis, who read an extensive statement, expressed sympathy without admitting that Raucci had done anything to his underlings. He was convicted last year of setting explosives on people’s cars and homes, including those of several school employees. He is now serving 23 years to life in state prison. In Lewis’ statement, she focused on the need for the school district to move on. “We are hoping we can begin to heal and find a way to turn our attention back to our students,” she said. “We regret any harm that may have been caused to anyone as the result of Mr. Raucci’s conduct. We feel sincere empathy — sincere sympathy — for anyone who has been affected.” Lewis did offer one apology, but not to Raucci’s victims. “We apologize to the Schenectady community for the disruption this may have caused to our schools,” she said. “It’s a fact that one of our employees was convicted of criminal acts. Our district and the Schenectady community continue to feel the impact of these acts, the highly publicized court case, events related to the case and subsequent legal claims.” She added, “We want to be very clear and make it understood that no one here is happy about paying any amount of money on this or any legal claim.” ..................>>>>....................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01104&AppName=1
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