A class-action lawsuit that alleges age and race discrimination, has been filed in Prince George's County on behalf of the 800-member school principals' union.
The suit, which was filed Nov. 2 in District Court by the Association of Supervisory and Administrative School Personnel, takes the Prince George's County public school system and its Board of Education to task seeking $100 million in lost wages and benefits, interests, costs expenses and attorney fees.
The complaint which also names former schools superintendent William Hite, was spawned following the principals' allegations that the school system used the cover of a staff reduction and reorganization to fire nearly 30 employees early last year. The lawsuit also claims that the school system "systematically promoted" younger principals and subjected older principals to "more subjective and rigorous performance standards."
"When we looked at it, older black males had no chance of promotion," Doris Reed, ASASP executive director, said in an interview.