DeKalb Schools Settles Superintendent Candidate Lawsuit For $750K

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — A former candidate for DeKalb County School District superintendent filed a lawsuit claiming he was not chosen for the role based on race and age discrimination. The district has now come to a settlement agreement for $750,000.

DCSD Board of Education members recently approved the settlement agreement with Rudy Crew, the candidate, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Crew was president of Medgar Evers College from 2013 until he suddenly resigned from his post in February.

About a year ago, Crew, 70, interviewed with the DCSD board for the previously-vacant superintendent role. He was named the lone finalist shortly after — but two weeks later, the board voted 4-3 not to hire him.

Crew's lawsuit was seeking compensation due to alleged discrimination, back pay, compensation for "emotional distress" and punitive damages against DCSD board member Joyce Morley. Morley is listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, in which Crew accuses her of disparaging him because his late wife was white, according to the AJC. Both Crew and Morley are Black.

Crew's lawsuit also claimed DeKalb board members made "ageist" remarks to him and to constituents in favor of younger candidates. For example, when board member Marshall Orson announced the selection of Watson-Harris, he referred to her as "part of the next generation of outstanding leaders in public education." Crew's lawsuit says this is evidence that the board "selected her instead of Crew because of age bias."\

SEE ALSO: Former Superintendent Candidate Files Lawsuit With DeKalb Schools

DeKalb board members voted 5-1 to approve the $750,000 settlement agreement at a March 26 meeting, the AJC reported. Orson voted against the settlement, and board member Allyson Gevertz was absent.

Board chair Vickie Turner told the AJC she voted in favor because it would "protect our assets." The original lawsuit sought about $1.5 million in damages.