Two former DeKalb School District employees have dropped their sexual harassment lawsuit against former Superintendent Jack Deere.

A settlement agreement was finalized last week at the United States District Court in Rockford, dismissing all charges.

The plaintiffs, former employees Robyn Rhodes and JoAnn Desmond, and their attorney, Jordan Gallagher of Gallagher, Klein and Brady, DeKalb, each received $50,000 from the school district’s insurance companies in exchange for releasing all claims they had raised against Deere, the DeKalb Board of Education and certain past and present Board members.

Rhodes and Desmond accused Deere of coming on to them, rubbing against their bodies and other violations in a 10-count harassment suit, which detailed more than 30 incidents.

In the lawsuit, the women claimed Deere rubbed his pelvis and penis against their buttocks and pelvis on separate occasions. In addition, the women claimed they noticed a wet spot on Deere’s crotch after these and other incidents.

Further charges claimed Deere made derogatory remarks about female members of the school board and how they were frustrated because they weren’t getting enough sex.

“We’re pleased the case is finally settled,” Gallagher said. “Now the two ladies can get on with their lives.”

Gallagher said the plaintiffs are pleased with the turnout. “They think it’s fair,” he said. “They’re happy that it’s finally over, for their own sakes as well as their families’.”

Gallagher said although the outcome was gratifying, the decision to initially file the claim was difficult for Rhodes and Desmond.

“When they first filed the claim, they were scared,” he said. “It was hard to do, but they’re satisfied that there was a system there that worked—both the legal system and the school system.”

Pat Brown, president of the DeKalb Board of Education, said the board was happy with the result as well.

“The settlement was no surprise because we hoped it would turn out like this,” she said.

“An employee made a complaint with the administration, the board reached an agreement with (Deere) and he left the district,” Brown said.

Brown said Deere left after the board bought out his contract in 1990, but many questions were still left unanswered.

“The community was up in arms and we couldn’t discuss it because of the pending investigation,” Brown said.

Rhodes’ and Desmond’s charges against Deere and the board included violating the equal protection claim, a right to privacy and due process, as well as breach of implied contract and reckless hiring and supervision, among others.

Additionally, the women charged the board with disregard and indifference to Deere’s former harassment conduct at other jobs.

Gallagher said the lawsuit was beneficial for Rhodes and Desmond, as well as for others.

“They feel good about it in two respects,” he said. “First, maybe it will help others in similar situations know that there’s a system that works. Second, it stopped the activity in the DeKalb School District.”