Wayland Public Schools Superintendent Omar Easy filed a racial discrimination criticism in opposition to the city, faculty district and faculty committee Friday, following a excessive profile incident of racist graffiti focusing on him in December and a sample of what he calls “severe and persistent harm.”
“On December 21, 2022, I was the victim of a hate crime at work—the words “OMAR =
*******” have been scrawled on public property adjoining to the highschool,” Easy wrote within the criticism, referencing a racial epithet.
“This is not the first time explicitly racist behavior has targeted me, Black employees, and Black students in Wayland,” the superintendent continued. “Such behavior has been the apex of a hostile work environment fostered and stoked by the Wayland School Committee—and in particular Chair Chris Ryan and Vice Chair Ellen Grieco.”
Easy, appointed in June 2021 because the district’s first Black superintendent, filed the criticism with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination alleging illegal racial harassment, retaliation and threats, amongst different costs.
Easy stated he was positioned on depart on Feb. 8, after elevating issues about unlawfully discriminatory conduct to the committee. As of Friday, Easy stated, he has not been supplied with rationalization for the depart.
In an announcement, the Wayland School Committee stated they’re “unable to comment on specific allegations” because the authorized matter is ongoing and requested the group for endurance.
“However, the School Committee wishes to reiterate that the Wayland Public Schools seeks to foster a welcoming, inclusive, anti-racist environment; our actions have and will continue to demonstrate a commitment to those principles,” the assertion reads.
The city of Wayland is lower than 1% Black, Easy notes within the submitting, and all faculty committee members are white.
The superintendent lists pages of allegations in opposition to the committee within the criticism.
In one, Easy alleges the Vice Chair requested hiring consultants to “find additional White candidates after two of the three (superintendent) finalists were Black.” In one other, he says members refused to assist the termination of an administrator primarily based on racist conduct, requiring Easy to retain exterior authorized counsel.
Over time, “big scary Black man,” “thug” or comparable stereotypes of him have been perpetuated, Easy argued, and repeated complaints and investigations that didn’t lead to disciplinary measures broken his status.
Easy additionally notes previous to his being positioned on depart, his efficiency was rated as “proficient.”
“As a result of Respondents’ discriminatory, retaliatory, and other unlawful actions, I have suffered, and continue to suffer, significant harm, including emotional distress,” Easy concludes.
Following the criticism, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination will launch a proper investigation and request a response from the events listed.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”