Goodrich – The civil rights complaint filed by Brian Walton, citing age discrimination against the school district, will be investigated.
That’s the message from Trevor Coleman, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, director of communications following the April 25 hearing. The district will have seven days to answer the charges.
‘I am not out to get anybody or ruin anyone’s life,? said Walton, director of special education. ‘The district could have settled this matter in mediation. Since I was the only administrator who didn’t get pay raises since the 2004-2005 school year like the other administrators received, I asked them to pay the difference in my salary which would only have cost the district between $8,000 and $10,000. I was the only one singled out, that’s age discrimination. The fact that I have been in the district for 32 years shouldn’t matter.?
Michael Tripp, school board president, responded to the investigation.
‘When we compared Brian’s salary to some of the other administrators? salaries, we decided not to give him the same pay increases we gave other administrators. That is because Brian made over $100,000 a year. He was making more than some of our principals. From my perspective, I didn’t support an increase of wages because of his current wage level compared to what other special education directors were getting in other districts.?
At the April 26 board of education meeting, trustees voted unanimously not to renew Walton’s contract for the 2008-09 school year. At the end of the meeting, Walton asked the board to be given a chance to talk about his civil suit. Board President Michael Tripp said he would have to deny the request since the district’s legal counsel was not present.