Lynn Sloneker in her Unmuffled blog reports that John L. Edwards Primary School principal Steven Spicer alleges “unlawful discriminatory actions” against the Hudson City School District and its Board of Education. "In a complaint filed with the New York State Division of Human Rights, dated Oct. 28, Spicer alleged he is 'being subjected to disparate treatment for unlawful discriminatory reasons relating to' his race. Spicer is the only African-American administrator employed by the school district." Board president Peter Merante would not comment to Sloneker on Wednesday. “I haven’t had the chance to read it [the complaint] yet,” Merante told the reporter. "I don't want to say anything until I've had a chance to look at it." Spicer alleges:
• He was subjected to harassing, “disparaging” emails from Hudson High School principal Thomas Gavin where Gavin accused Spicer of professional misconduct. Specifically, “...corrupting state Regents exams and knowingly assisting teachers and students in cheating on the state assessments.” Spicer complains that Superintendent John F. Howe failed stop the harassment.
• Howe reprimanded Spicer via email several times, copying those emails to other staff members.
• Spicer did not receive an annual performance review in 2010-11. “The meeting occurred for all the other building principals, except me. No appointment was made and no reason was given,” according to the complaint. Spicer also says he was not given a raise per his contract.
• Spicer claims he was denied a key to the administrative offices that every other administrator has.
"The complaint was filed against the HCSD and its board, but Spicer specified Howe as the individual responsible for the discrimination. He said the most recent act occurred Oct. 14," Sloneker reports. Read the full story in Unmuffled.