Bill would require disclosure of severance for those accused of harassment

In wake of Des Plaines Elementary District 62 paying more than $127,000 in severance to its former superintendent accused of sexual harassment, a pair of suburban lawmakers are co-sponsoring legislation requiring local governments to provide public notice of similar payouts in the future.

State Rep. Marty Moylan, a Democrat from Des Plaines, filed the bill with Rep. David McSweeney, a Barrington Hills Republican, in response to the payout given former District 62 Superintendent Floyd Williams Jr. in November.

The legislation would require any unit of local government, including school districts, to provide public notice within 72 hours of approving a severance agreement with an employee or contractor accused of sexual harassment or discrimination.

Under the bill, the government would have to publish on its website and in a local newspaper the name of the employee, the amount of the payment, and that the person was accused of sexual harassment or discrimination.

The legislation unanimously passed a House committee last week.

"I am outraged by the lack of transparency at the local levels," Moylan said in a news release Friday. "The people need to be notified when our tax money is going to pay severance agreements to individuals accused of terrible wrongdoings."

District 62 officials have confirmed that at least five female employees complained about Williams' conduct and inappropriate or offensive comments. Some of those reports came within months of Williams starting his job in July 2016. Williams has denied the accusations.