On Nov. 1, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued determinations on charges by 10 employees against the Tukwila School District (TSD). The EEOC found sufficient evidence to indicate that the complainants were subjected to an illegal, hostile work environment consisting of race and color harassment. This violates title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. The TSD is expected to work with the charging parties and the commission to achieve conciliation and settlement. If it does not, the commission has court enforcement alternatives.
For the moment, it makes sense that the TSD deny the determinations of the EEOC because there is a separate concurrent Superior Court case brought by the same employees. TSD expects vindication through the court case next year.
The school board should consider what it needs to do differently to avoid or be aware of such problems before they get out of hand. Simplistic “what’s best for kids” thinking is neither sufficient nor holistic. While leaving the day-to-day operations to the superintendent, the board should ensure that the metrics reflect policy and that employee job satisfaction is high.
Contact Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish at chuckparrish2002@yahoo.com.
