GREENVILLE — Seven Hempfield Elementary School teachers have filed claims that Greenville Area School District officials attempted to intimidate and retaliate against them after they testified in support of fired teacher Jon Ross.

School district officials deny the allegations.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association filed unfair labor practices charges Friday with the state Labor Relations Board against the school district on behalf of the Greenville Education Association, the teachers’ union.

School directors on May 13 said they fired third-grade teacher Ross, who was GEA president, after seven current or former district employees testified in private hearings that Ross sexually harassed them or they saw Ross sexually harassing a colleague.

The seven teachers – Cindy Besic, Nita Glassman, Kelly Lynn Hittle, Barbara Jean Johnston, Jodi McErlane, Raye Stoyer and Brook Truby — testified on behalf of Ross during his disciplinary hearings before the board, legal counsel and district administrators, according to documents filed Friday by PSEA.

The complaint alleges the district’s labor relations attorney, Charles Steele, Superintendent Dr. Patricia M. Homer and Nancy Castor, principal of East and Hempfield elementary schools, engaged in these retaliatory acts against those teachers:

ä Mrs. Castor observed the teachers’ classroom performances, usually within days of their testimony in support of Ross, and issued uncharacteristically negative reviews. Some of her comments referenced their testimony, which was unrelated to classroom observation or any teaching performance issue.

ä Mrs. Castor refused to allow those teachers to respond to or defend her unjustified and retaliatory negative comments.

ä Steele and/or Dr. Homer spread a rumor that Ms. Besic had engaged in improper sexual acts with Ross in his classroom.

ä Ms. McErlane, a certified responsive classroom trainer from 1997 to 2009, saw her request for the district to pay for training needed to maintain that certification denied after officials learned she would testify on Ross’ behalf. The district had in the past paid for the training, which the union said benefited other teachers at no additional cost to the district.

ä Mrs. Castor said that anyone who testified for Ross would be disciplined if they made any supportive statements on his behalf on school grounds, or if they spoke with any school board member about Ross.

ä Mrs. Castor arranged for teachers and a woman not employed by the district, Mrs. Castor’s daughter, who testified on behalf of the administration at Ross’ hearings to use the school to meet parents and other members of the public.

That meeting allowed those witnesses to tell the public why they believed the district should change its decision to offer Ross his job back.

When the school board revealed May 13 why they fired Ross, they also said they offered him a “last chance agreement” to return to his job, but only if he received counseling and moved to a different school building.

Two, female Hempfield Elementary employees reported Ross in March 2008 for making inappropriate sexual comments, and one of the women was related to a member of the administration, the board said.

That’s when Steele began to investigate the complaints against Ross, which he determined began in 2002 and involved seven school employees.

The board fired Ross April 20 but didn’t name him at the time, citing legal advice that led them to believe they could withhold his name because of a confidentiality agreement. That resulted in the public’s demand to know who was fired and why.

Ross came forward on his own, saying he was wrongfully fired, a move that board members said broke the agreement, allowing them to say why he was fired.

Ross maintains his innocence and is appealing his termination, with hearings set for Wednesday and Thursday in Pittsburgh before the Labor Relations Board.