GUILDERLAND - It's all politics. That's what Matt Nelligan says. He's one of two teachers being transferred from Guilderland High School to the middle school.

This teacher believes this is punishment for two reasons -- he's an outspoken conservative and he has publicly criticized the district and the teachers union.

"I have been treated very badly because of those views," Nelligan said.

Wearing a gold cross around his neck and a shirt supporting presidential candidate John McCain Nelligan, took his case to talk radio this morning.

"What have I ever done? Where is this secret report that you've compiled on me?" he said while appearing on WGY-AM.

Nelligan and Anne Marie McManus are both social studies teachers at Guilderland High School. Now they're being moved over to the middle school.

Nelligan believes this has stemmed from an allegation that he made anti-gay remarks and sexually harassed an individual this school year.

"The district, I can almost see them rubbing their hands together in glee, when they got an accusation and said 'Ah, conservatives, of course they're intolerant. Let's now use this,'" he told NewsChannel 13.

It snowballed. All of the social studies teachers at Guilderland High were handed a survey and forced to answer if they've ever heard or seen anything inappropriate.

The district did an internal investigation and Nelligan says the allegations were unfounded. He denies ever making an anti-gay remark.

Another layer to this, Nelligan and McManus have been known to be outspoken against the district and teachers union.

An article from the Altamont Enterprise this past April is an example. Nelligan and McManus' names appear at the bottom.

"Ten members signed a letter criticizing the school board for accepting union donations," Nelligan explained.

Guilderland Town Board Member Mark Grimm says this is an outrage.

"I tell Guilderland teachers, if they can get McManus and Nelligan, they can get you," Grimm said.

NewsChannel 13 tried repeatedly to contact the district superintendent and the president of the teachers union during the day Wednesday.  They both called the newsroom late in the day.

The superintendent says this has nothing to do with anyone's political beliefs.  He says there was an environment in the high school that did not include respect and tolerance.  So he wanted to move some teachers around to change things up.

The union president says both teachers have filed a grievance and the union will represent them.  He also points out that he just became the union president two days ago.