By Sofia Williams
Editor-in-Chief
and McLean Grimes
Executive News Editor
Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) hired a firm to investigate Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Tom Stekol for making inappropriate comments at a professional development meeting on Oct. 13.
According to economics teacher Adam Geczi, he asked Stekol why teachers are required to fill out a Certificate of Absence (COA) notifying the district of their absence during mandatory professional development meetings. Geczi says that Stekol then asserted that if teachers did not fill out a COA, their absences due to professional development would be unpaid.
“Why would I be told that I’m not going to get paid unless I fill out a COA to attend an event that I didn’t even want to go to to begin with?” said Geczi. “But most importantly, the absence fell outside of the auspices of the law that [Stekol] was referencing.”
According to Geczi, Stekol responded to his question with disparaging remarks about his physical appearance. According to Geczi, this exchange occurred in a meeting with Costa’s faculty.
“I said, ‘if I have to do what you tell me to do because I work for you, then tell me to do push-ups right here’…His response was that I couldn’t do any push-ups,” said Geczi. “The incident shocked a lot of teachers because for the human resources director or assistant superintendent to say that and to use that language is authoritarian at worst, and at best is just not understanding the concept of the law.”
Stekol’s comments on multiple occasions have sparked complaints from the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association (MBUTA). According to the MBUTA, 2/3 of the union has “no confidence” in Stekol, deeming his comments “unprofessional behavior, physical intimidation, and a disparaging attitude.”
“It is so disheartening that this occurred, and what is perhaps more upsetting is how scary it is to come here today and share this with you all because I do fear retribution,” said Costa English teacher Maddie Hutchinson in a public comment during an MBUSD Board meeting on Oct. 18. “I cannot sit by and witness egregious acts of blatant disrespect and intimidation without using my voice to advocate.”
At a board meeting on Oct. 18, seven teachers made public comments discussing the incident, condemning the behavior exhibited by Stekol.
“The head of human resources behaved in a manner that appeared to intend intimidation and cause discomfort using his physical presence by violating the personal space of others, exaggerating gestures, and talking loudly and combatively over others,” said Costa English teacher and Union representative Keely Sweeney in a public comment. “The recent outburst involving the head of HR is the most recent in a pattern of concerning behavior directed at staff members. Our bargaining unit attempted to gain an avenue through which teachers could direct complaints regarding human resources and come to an agreement, but was denied.”
Stekol’s comments at the meeting sparked concerns that he was hired without an interview. According to Costa English teacher Lindsey Valbuena, the teachers union’s complaints to the district resulted in an investigation by a hired firm.
“[The MBUTA] felt it was important to bring behaviors that we had noticed from [Stekol] to the attention of our superiors so that we could document some of the stuff we were noticing that was making staff members feel uncomfortable and as though there was a hostile work environment, or at least one that was not appropriate for us to sit through,” said Valbuena.
According to Stekol, he accepts the filing of complaints from teachers and hopes the issue will soon be resolved. Stekol says that he hopes to take accountability for his actions and continue to serve MBUSD.
“I have a long track record of successfully helping strengthen accountability for employee performance and conduct over a 35-year career in education,” said Stekol in a statement to La Vista. “Although I have not seen the complaints filed by some of the teachers, I look forward to a thorough and impartial investigation of their complaints.”
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