Three Caledonia High School teachers are appealing their transfers to the New Hope campus with the Lowndes County School District board.
They have also taken their grievances to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming the transfers came after months of harassment by school administration.
The three teachers — Anne Richardson, Melissa Suddith and Norma Sanders, accompanied by their attorney Bo Rideout — pleaded with the school board during a 1-hour, 20-minute executive session Thursday night at the LCSD central office. Trustees took no action.
“We wanted to plead to the board to reverse the transfers of the three of us (who) were involuntarily reassigned to New Hope,” Suddith told The Dispatch after the meeting. “We were just asking them to reverse those transfers from the school and community we love. We love our children and we want to stay. This is just part of the injustice that has been done to us.”
None of the three teachers would discuss the details of their appeal, or their complaint to the EEOC, with The Dispatch, but Superintendent Lynn Wright confirmed the issue revolved around their claims of being harassed by CHS Principal Andy Stevens and former Assistant Principal Robert Byrd.
Byrd was forced to resign on Feb. 8 for “insubordination and releasing confidential information,” according to LCSD board attorney Jeff Smith. By that time, Stevens had already served a five-day suspension for not properly supervising Byrd.
According to LCSD board minutes, the three teachers, then represented by attorney William Starks, appeared before trustees on Feb. 18 to request Stevens be removed from his position. Two months later, the three teachers were notified they were being transferred to New Hope. In the interim, Stevens — who faced no further discipline — twice reprimanded Suddith and possibly the other two teachers, as well.
Smith, speaking to The Dispatch Thursday, would not confirm or deny the transfers being related to their Feb. 18 complaint to the board.
“The only thing I’ll say is I won’t deny it,” Smith said. “You ask me and I won’t deny it. I won’t admit it, but I won’t deny it.
“The person that feels aggrieved by the transfer has the right to approach the board,” he later added. “Let’s just say there was a lot of presentation by the three affected ladies.”
Wright, on the other hand, said there was no connection between the teachers’ grievances and their transfers. Budget issues, he said, have led the district to downsize its teaching force by about 60 positions and the transfers are necessary to make sure the right people are in the necessary spots, especially as classes are being consolidated.
“They are all three very talented teachers,” Wright told The Dispatch. “What we’ve been trying to do is place people in critical areas. … We’ve had transfers all throughout the district.
“They just don’t want to be transferred,” he added. “They said they were being constantly harassed. (Stevens) doesn’t even talk to them. … They have cost us a lot of money, more than what the job (pays). … We could have let them teach one class and let them sit out there and do nothing and we would have come out cheaper.”
EEOC complaint
A complaint to the EEOC is a necessary step public employees must take before they can file a formal lawsuit against their employer. The commission will issue a finding as to whether there is merit to the discrimination/harassment claim.
Though EEOC complaints themselves are confidential, Wright not only confirmed to The Dispatch on Thursday that the three teachers filed separate such complaints in mid-May, he read aloud in an interview excerpts from the district’s response to the complaints.
That response included details of the teachers’ grievances.
Wright said many of the issues arose from a meeting among Byrd, Stevens, Richardson and Sanders. Suddith wasn’t present but was discussed.
“It was discussed by Byrd and Stevens that he suspected Mrs. Suddith was trying to undermine his authority,” Wright read from the response. “During the meeting Assistant Principal Robert Byrd also made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature about third parties who were not present at the meeting. Principal Stevens also made inappropriate comments.
“None of the comments were directed toward Richardson or Sanders,” he continued to read. “Also none of the inappropriate comments were made against Mrs. Suddith as she was not present at the meeting. It should be reiterated that any statements of Stevens and Byrd were directed toward third parties, not toward Mrs. Suddith, and the comments were an isolated incident. There has been no allegation of frequent or repeated instances of inappropriate sexual comments or sexual harassment.”
Wright said the teachers filed grievances with the district after the meeting between Stevens and Byrd in December.
“On Jan. 8 2019, Byrd received a notice of termination,” Wright read. “As the due process was being conducted, Byrd tendered his resignation. The actions of Principal Andy Stevens (were) also investigated. Superintendent Lynn Wright placed Stevens on administrative leave without pay from Feb. 1 through Feb. 8, in part for inappropriate language.”
Since filing grievances within the district, Wright said Suddith was reprimanded twice by the district.
“A reprimand was issued to Mrs. Suddith for undermining (Stevens’) authority,” Wright read. “Mrs. Suddith was advised there was no grievance procedure for a reprimand. Superintendent Wright wrote a letter April 29 (issuing) another reprimand. These reprimands were based on objective evidence and there are no facts to support an allegation that the reprimands are retaliatory.”
He added the teachers were upset by the reprimands even though they were simple “write-ups.”
“A letter of reprimand is nothing and they go ballistic,” Wright told The Dispatch. “A letter of reprimand is like telling a child to go back to their seat.”
Wright said in the complaint, Suddith claimed she was discriminated against on the basis of sex and rejecting sexual harassment from a superior.
“Charging party does not assert a single fact in support (of the) claim for sexual harassment, as none exists,” said Wright, again reading from the complaint response. “She also alleges discrimination based on her age. Not only does Mrs. Suddith fail to support this assertion with any facts, she alleges upon information and belief younger employees and employees who have not complained about discrimination are being treated more favorable. This allegation fails because she is not comparing herself to similar employees. Lastly, she claims retaliation which is also without merit because charging party has not had an adverse employment decision against her.”
When reached by The Dispatch, Stevens said he is aware of the EEOC complaint.
“It’s a big joke, is what it is,” he said, offering no further comment.
Wright said, even with adequate action being taken by the board, the teachers have persisted with legal action.
“I ruled in their favor,” Wright said. “These two men were penalized. One lost his wages (for five days), one lost his job. … They just won’t let it die.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 45 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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