Panel: 'Substantial evidence' school chief fired for being gay

Dan82 · Aug 2, 2010

http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/2553062,CST-NWS-fired31.article

The Cook County Human Rights Commission has ruled there is "substantial evidence" former Bremen Community School District 228 Supt. Rich Mitchell was fired almost four years ago because he was gay.

The ruling clears the way for the case to be brought before the commission for a full hearing. The district is based in south suburban Midlothian.

Mitchell was fired in November 2006, a year after the board approved a contract extension through 2009 and after a change in board leadership.

"The findings clearly illustrate that school boards can't be in the business of firing teachers or administrators because they are gay," said Mitchell's attorney, Christopher Clark. "After years of investigation, this case can finally proceed to a full hearing."

A statement from Lambda Legal, the law firm representing Mitchell, said Evelyn Gleason became school board president shortly after the contract extension was approved.

After the district hired a new law firm, one where Gleason's son worked, an attorney declared the contract extension was invalid.

Mitchell's complaint, which was filed in December 2006, alleged the board became hostile toward him and blocked programs he tried to implement. The board gave Mitchell 60 days to overhaul the district, but the board stonewalled plans he tried to implement, the statement read.

The board then suspended Mitchell just after the beginning of the 2006-07 school year when a hazing video of first-year teachers made its way to network television.

After an eight-hour closed meeting, the board then voted 4-2 to fire Mitchell.
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Panel: 'Substantial evidence' school chief fired for being gay

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Dan82
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