Discrimination Lawsuit Against Frisco ISD Will Go To Trial
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FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) - An African-American teacher and coach is one step closer to having his discrimination complaints against Frisco ISD heard by a jury.
In 2012, Alvin Jackson worked as a world history teacher and coach at Frisco High School, when he was told his contract would not be renewed. He claims it was retaliation after he complained to the school's principal and assistant principal about race discrimination from another coach.
Jackson's lawsuit alleges he was told by both principal Sylvia Palacios and assistant principal Cade Smith to say nothing about it. He also says the pair started to give him negative teaching reviews after the complaints even though he had received positive reviews months earlier. Palacios allegedly told Jackson in 2012, that he was not a good fit for Frisco ISD and should teach for Dallas ISD, according to Jackson.
The case was previously dismissed in the school district's favor by the U.S. District Court in Sherman. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision, ruling in favor of Jackson. The next step will be to take Jackson's claims to trial where they will be heard by a jury.
"We are very happy with the result," said Mr. Jackson's lawyer, Matthew Scott of the Kendall Law Group in Dallas. "We are confident that once a jury hears the same evidence heard by the court of appeals, then it, too, will conclude that former Frisco High School principal Sylvia Palacios, Assistant Principal Cade Smith and numerous other district administrators unlawfully discriminated against Mr. Jackson because of his race and his reports of race discrimination."
Frisco ISD provided the following comment regarding the recent development:
"We believe it is important to note the ruling states that a question of fact remains for a jury to decide, not that the teacher's claims are valid. We are confident that a jury would conclude that he was non-renewed because of teaching performance, as was the reason given and upheld previously in the lower court."
The name Sylvia Palacios may sound familiar. She is the same principal, who was recently reassigned and demoted within the Frisco school district, prompting a massive walkout by hundreds of Frisco High School students earlier this month. She has since withdrawn her grievance with the district and announced her retirement.
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