White Hazelwood School District Administrator Alleges Racial Discrimination Was Behind Demotions

ST. LOUIS, MO — A former white Hazelwood School District assistant superintendent, Crystal Reiter, is alleging racial discrimination after being demoted to middle school principal in 2015, and, more recently, to teacher with no school assignment in April. She is suing the district. After 21 years with HSD, the demotions meant a significant pay cut and reduction in retirement benefits, according to her attorney.

KMOV St. Louis reports:

Reiter names two HSD administrators in the suit, Nettie Collins-Hart and Julia Burke, both of whom are African-American. Reiter alleges Collins-Hart and Burke were responsible for her first demotion and campaigned to intimidate her into leaving the district.

The suit states that early in 2017, Burke told Reiter she should look outside of HSD for employment, and in mid-February Collins-Hart told her the district board may not renew her contract and suggested she resigned.

A month later, Reiter’s supervisor told he she would be removed from her job as principal and be replaced with an African-American who was assigned to the school.

Reiter's lawyer said neither Burke nor Collins-Hart discussed performance issues with her and her performance reviews were always extremely positive.

The district said in a statement that it is "committed to providing equal opportunity in all areas of education, recruiting, hiring, retention, promotion and contracted service." More from KMOV.

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