A parental rights organization asked the federal government on Monday to investigate a California school district for excluding white faculty members from an event last year. The organization argues that the school district committed racial discrimination against white employees.
According to a letter sent to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Parents Defending Education has requested that the government investigate the Acalanes Union High School District in Lafayette, California, over allegations of racial discrimination.
In the letter, which was first obtained by The Daily Wire, Parents Defending Education claimed that the district had violated federal law by hosting events for non-white faculty members and excluding white faculty members.
Parents Defending Education wrote, “PDE and its members oppose racial discrimination and political indoctrination in America’s schools. Acalanes Union High School District is offering additional programming for employees of color that are not offered to all employees in the district.”
According to The Daily Wire, Parents Defending Education’s complaint comes after Lynnā McPhatter-Harris, the district’s director of student equity and inclusion, hosted an event last year for employees “of color.” In an email sent to school employees, McPhatter-Harris wrote, “We are looking forward to seeing our people of color in the district. Please invite any employee of color to this event.”
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“Be reminded that we have avoided inviting people that are not of color as there remains feelings of uneasiness and mistrust and we need this to be a safe space for our people of color,” McPhatter-Harris added. “Please reach out to me if you have any questions of concerns.”
In Monday’s letter, Parents Defending Education claimed that the Acalanes Union High School District egnaged in “employment discrimination,” which is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts.
“Acalanes Union High School likewise cannot exclude employees based on their race,” Parents Defending Education stated. “We ask that your office promptly investigate the allegations in this complaint, act swiftly to remedy unlawful policies and practices, and order appropriate relief.”
In its letter, Parents Defending Education also highlighted language in a contractual agreement between Acalanes Union High School District and the Acalanes Education Association, which mentions teachers promoting equity in the school’s classrooms.
Parents Defending Education said, “According to the contract, educators commit to ‘promote equity in the classroom’ and ‘construct an equitable learning environment.'”
