ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

In October 2002, Reed and Cook had a confrontation that spurred Reed to report that
Cook was suicidal, and Cook reported the excessive number of phone calls that he was receiving
from Reed--42 calls in one 2-hour period. In November, Reed completed a workshop on sexual
harassment in the workplace. On November 13, Donna Shults, a District secretary, and Amy
Jones, Cook’s secretary, confronted Cook about having affairs with both of them at the same
time. Shults also reported her relationship with Cook to Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Terry
Adams. Adams directed Zalis to investigate the situation. Moreover, Reed was made aware of
this meeting by Shults who reported that Cook and Jones were claiming that Reed was stalking
Cook. The next day, Reed contacted Pat Johnson (female), Director of Transportation and
colleague of Cook, and Jones to address the “stalker” accusation via school email. Reed
demanded that Johnson and Jones curtail their problems with Cook and refrain from discussing
her at any time. On that same day, November 14, 2002, Zalis met and directed Reed to not
initiate any further contact with any of the parties involved with Cook. Johnson and Cook would
later explain that Reed called Cook and told them of Zalis’s “ass chewing” about not contacting
him or anyone else involved in his investigation. Johnson also reported that Reed called and
threatened her to cease talking about her relationship with Cook.
On November 15, Cook met with Zalis and played a tape recorded conversation that he
(Cook) had with Reed the day before where Reed requested to continue the affair. Cook
explained that he did not want to cause any problems but he wanted Zalis to be aware that Reed
was interfering with his ability to work. On November 15, Johnson submitted a birthday card to
Zalis that Reed and her secretary Charlene Mumma had created for a bus mechanic. In the card,
a picture of Mumma and Reed with pencils in their mouths mentioning their breast sizes and a
need for men good with tools and prepared for “three way” work. This card was created on a
211