Schools Superintendent Robin Fankhauser said her personnel decisions are not based on race. State law limits what district officials can say about employment matters, but public records indicate the dismissals of some black workers this spring were linked to performance. Brown and other organizers contend black educators were disproportionately demoted and laid off this spring.
Emotions born of decades of mistrust, rather than sheer numbers, appear to be driving the outrage.
Statistically, the 74 black educators who lost their jobs this spring may seem insignificant compared with the district's 5,000 total employees. But to a minority community already convinced that children see too few black faces in school and classroom leadership roles, losing three black male principals when there were only eight to begin with is unacceptable. The three administrators collectively have at least 80 years of educational experience, hold advanced degrees and certifications and have been lauded for their contributions to children. To many, the personnel actions this spring are just the latest in a litany of offenses by the Fayette public school district. People mention black coaches overlooked for promotions and recall Fankhauser's central office reorganization, which bumped three black administrators.