Former Superintendent Candidate Files Lawsuit With DeKalb Schools

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — The DeKalb County School District is wrapped up in a lawsuit with a former candidate for superintendent who claims he was discriminated against because of his race and age.

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

Crew's lawsuit is 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 also claims in the lawsuit that Morley undermined his selection out of "racial animus and suspicion" toward the white board members who supported him, the AJC reported.

A school system spokesperson told the AJC the district could not comment on pending litigation; however, the district and Morley deny Crew's allegations in court documents.

Crew held various high-profile positions over his career, including Oregon's chief education officer; the superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools; and most recently the president of Medgar Evers College, where he has worked since 2013.

However, MEC students and staff claim Crew bullied subordinates, spent taxpayer dollars on personal trips and furniture, and obstructed a sexual assault allegation, according to the BK Reader. Then-board member Stan Jester voiced concerns over these allegations last year during the hiring process, and ultimately he voted against offering Crew a contract.

Then-board member Michael Erwin and current board members Dijon DaCosta and Morley also voted against the measure as well. The board then voted 6-1 to hire Cheryl Watson-Harris, 49, on June 18.

Crew's lawsuit also claims DeKalb board members made "ageist" remarks to him and to constituents in favor of younger candidates, the AJC reported. 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."

Read more on the AJC's website.