Asst. principal files discrimination charge against Champaign school district, reassigned to new school
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign School District is facing an employment discrimination charge for an allegedly “excessive” punishment against an assistant principal.
Documents obtained by WCIA confirm Booker T. Washington STEAM Academy’s assistant principal Rebecca Ramey has filed a charge of discrimination with both the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The complaint alleges the district harshly punished Ramey based on her marital status and sexual orientation.
The charges of discrimination were filed Monday. Ramey had a meeting scheduled with the district Wednesday, where she was told she was being relocated as the assistant principal to Kenwood Elementary School for the rest of the school year.
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Ramey was also told the district was not sure if she would have a position for next school year. A lawyer for the assistant principal argue no valid reason for her transfer exists, as she has been a valued member of the Booker T. Washington community since fall 2019.
“The District’s actions appear punitive and retaliatory, as Ms. Ramey is being transferred from
BTW without the option of allowing her to finish out the school year, while simultaneously
being told that there is no guarantee of her future employment with the District,” part of an email Ramey’s lawyer Ron Langacker sent to District Superintendent Dr. Shelia Boozer said.
Ramey’s wife, Diana Kistler, is a first-grade teacher also at Booker T. Washington STEAM Academy. Kistler was among the teachers vocal about the need for safety after two groups of children exchanged gunfire near the school in September. At the next board meeting on Sept. 26, she publicly criticized district administration for their leadership in the situation.
“I want to publicly forgive you, Dr. Boozer, for the hurt you have recently caused me,” Kistler said at the meeting. “I forgive you for not showing up when we needed you, I forgive you for beckoning me over with your finger. I forgive you for forgetting to ask me if I was okay the day after my family experienced yet another traumatic event.”
In late October, Ramey violated district policy for dispensing medication to a student without the proper updated authorization. Booker T. Washington’s principal, Jaime Roundtree, found after conducting an internal investigation no harm happened to the child, and Ramey was unfamiliar with district policies but not reckless nor negligent.
Roundtree recommended a written warning for the violation. Administration for the district ignored Roundtree’s request and instead gave Ramey a five-day unpaid suspension.
The principal found the suspension to be excessive. He believed the severe punishment was because of Ramey’s relationship with Kistler and Kistler’s opinions.
District leaders also told Roundtree the administrative staff had made a decision to transfer Ramey in December. At the meeting Wednesday, Ramey alleges when she asked why she was being relocated, one of the reasons administrative officials gave was “the issue with [her] wife”.
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Administrative decisions like relocations are done at the discretion of the Superintendent, but are subject to approval from the Board of Education.
One board member, Betsy Holder, said she doesn’t speak on behalf of the board but she personally would vote against approving Ramey’s reassignment. With her current understanding of the situation, Holder believes Ramey’s transfer across schools would greatly affect the student population.
“My concern is that in moving either of these administrators takes away stability from those kids, especially mid-year,” Board member and Champaign parent Betsy Holder said. “As adults, we can all argue and fight and have our opinions on things, but it’s the kids who are largely losing on this.”
The IDHR lists on their website all proceedings with charges of discriminations must be concluded within 365 days, unless all parties agree to an extension. Langacker estimates the case will be resolved in 6-9 months.
The school district’s response
A spokesperson for Champaign School District denied the discrimination claims.
“Champaign Unit 4 Schools is extremely proud of our diverse student body and workforce,” a statement to WCIA from the district reads. “While we vehemently deny the accuracy of the information shared by Mr. Langacker, we will not offer further comment at this time out of respect to our employees. As always, we caution our community about leaping to conclusions based on partial or misleading information.”
Langacker told WCIA he stands behind his client’s allegations.
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