Trustees Address Harassment Allegations : Education: Orange school board members do not say if they initiated any action against 2 administrators.

Trustees of the Orange Unified School District, meeting in a closed session that ended early Friday morning, took steps to address allegations of sexual harassment against two top school administrators, officials said.

But the trustees refused to say whether they initiated any action against Deputy Supt. Richard L. Donoghue or chief fiscal officer Joyce Capelle.

The board also broadened the investigation to include a third district employee, also suspected of sexual harassment, according to a source close to the investigation. But officials would not disclose the individual’s identity or job position, or the details of the accusations against the employee.

“We are keeping a tight lid on this,” said Trustee Rick Ledesma, one of seven board members who discussed the personnel matters in a closed session that began Thursday night. “We can’t say anything.”

Donoghue, 48, is accused of inappropriate touching, distributing lewd materials in the office and using sexually offensive language, according to transcripts of interviews conducted by Mary Jo McGrath, attorney for the school district, and her staff. Capelle, 39, is accused of tolerating sexual banter in the workplace.

Donoghue and Capelle did not attend the board’s closed session, where interim Supt. Marilyn Corey was expected to make recommendations about whether to take disciplinary action against the employees. Disciplinary action for sexual harassment can range from a verbal warning to job termination, according to school policy.

Neither Capelle, who worked until 4:30 p.m. Friday at district headquarters, nor Donoghue had been notified of the board’s actions by Friday evening, according to their attorney, Dale Gronemeier. Donoghue remained at home Friday on temporary paid leave, school officials said.

Neither administrator returned telephone calls Friday.

Donoghue and Capelle filed a $20-million lawsuit against the district, Corey, two of the district’s attorneys and an unidentified board member. They are accused of defamation, invasion of privacy and breach of contract.

The suit alleges that the sexual harassment charges against Capelle and Donoghue have been “instigated” by Corey to punish the pair for implementing cost-saving measures in the district.