Court Rules Against ex-EASD Administrator in Discrimination Suit

A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that the did not discriminate against a former black district administrator at his retirement.

William Houston, a former school district administrator and African-American, contends that the district discriminated against him after he received only 25 percent of the value of his unused, accrued sick leave, $32,919.04. The following year, three other retired administrators –- all white -- received 100 percent of their accrued sick leave.

Houston retired in 1998 after serving in the district for 34 years. He held positions including principal of and lastly as the Director of Support Services.

According to the suit, both Houston and the three other retired administrators were considered “cabinet-member” administrators, an informal title denoting a direct reporting line to the superintendent of schools.

Houston requested that evidence proving that his white counterparts received more accrued sick leave be admissible in court. An initial ruling in 2009 found that the district was fair in issuing the 25 percent in accrued sick leave because his white counterparts were not “covered by the same plan as Houston,” the ruling said.

Houston appealed that ruling and a second, jury trial was held. The jury found once again that the district was fair. In that trial, information regarding accrued sick leave for non-cabinet administrators was deemed admissible.

The ruling upholding the jury's decision was handed down by the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.