DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Michigan: Feds: School District Discriminated Against Arab-Americans
By Anne Runkle
Press & Guide Newspapers
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Crestwood School District will enter discussions with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after the agency found the district violated the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 in its hiring policies and discriminated against Arab-Americans.
The EEOC also said the district retaliated against a counselor who complained about its recruitment and hiring practices. The district has more than 3,300 students; about 60 percent are of Arab descent, Supt. Laurine VanValkenburg said.
The EEOC recommended the district pay $40,000 to counselor Hiam Brinjikji and agree to a number of changes in its hiring and recruitment policies.
Brinjikji complained that the district discriminated against Arab-Americans by not providing needed services to students for whom English was a second language. Those charges, which were filed with other federal agencies, are pending.
The compensation payment and hiring/recruitment changes are only recommendations, VanValkenburg said. While the district denies all charges of discrimination against students or employees, she said it will enter discussions with the EEOC about its hiring practices and about compensating Brinjikji.
MORE...
http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2013/07/19/news/doc51e93557b1b09429872918.txt
= new reply since forum marked as read
