Eastpointe teacher files racial discrimination complaint with EEOC
Teacher who filed EEOC complaint vows to file federal discrimination lawsuit against district. Three cases already pending against Eastpointe Community Schools.
Jennifer DixonAn employee of Eastpointe Community Schools, and former varsity men's basketball coach, has filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a lawyer for the district confirmed Thursday.
Michael Railey filed the complaint with the EEOC and told the Metro Times he had also filed discrimination complaints with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). An EEOC spokesman said the agency does not comment on cases, or confirm if a complaint was filed. An MDE spokesman said the department doesn't typically handle discrimination claims. A spokeswoman for the Civil Rights Department confirmed that Railey had filed a complaint, and said it had been forwarded to the EEOC. .
Railey said he planned to file a federal discrimination lawsuit against the district “in the very near future,” according to the Metro Times.
The district's spokeswoman, Caitlyn Kienitz, said Railey is still employed with the district as a special ed teacher, but longer coaches the men's varsity basketball team. She declined to elaborate. With Railey as its coach, the team won the district championship earlier this year.
Since last summer, three former employees of the district have filed racial discrimination claims against the district. All are Black. The women were a former principal, former assistant principal and former adminstrative assistant and grant specialist.
The women's lawyer, Jeffrey Hart, did not immediately return calls for comment.
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Michael Weaver, attorney for the district in Macomb County, said he generally does not comment on pending litigation.
He said the Railey case lacks merit, and that the district will vigorously defend itself agains the lawsuits, and is "confident in our position in all three of these cases. " The three federal lawsuits name the district and Superintendent Christina Gibson.
Contact Jennifer Dixon: jbdixon@freepress.com