District 150 Faces Lawsuit, Cites Racial Discrimination
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: November 2, 2012
PEORIA- A former Peoria principal is filing a lawsuit against the school district, the districts superintendent and some current and former board members.
Kevin Curtin claims he was the victim of racial discrimination after he was demoted from principal to teacher. He said that District 150 superintendent Grenita Lathan, Who is African American, refereed to him and another white principal in 'racially derogatory terms in a mocking voice.'
He said when Lathan recommended him for demotion, he was given a teaching position with a major pay cut, while another black female principal in the same situation was transferred to assistant principal with the same or greater salary. Curtin's lawyer is calling this a 'reverse discrimination' case.
District 150's attorney said the lawsuit is baseless and that Curtin was demoted because he forged teacher evaluations. The attorney said Lathan never made racial comments.
Kevin Curtin claims he was the victim of racial discrimination after he was demoted from principal to teacher. He said that District 150 superintendent Grenita Lathan, Who is African American, refereed to him and another white principal in 'racially derogatory terms in a mocking voice.'
He said when Lathan recommended him for demotion, he was given a teaching position with a major pay cut, while another black female principal in the same situation was transferred to assistant principal with the same or greater salary. Curtin's lawyer is calling this a 'reverse discrimination' case.
District 150's attorney said the lawsuit is baseless and that Curtin was demoted because he forged teacher evaluations. The attorney said Lathan never made racial comments.
