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Principal sues Ann Arbor schools for $5M alleging racial discrimination

Posted at 1:00 PM, Jul 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-23 19:05:42-04

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — A school principal from Lawton Elementary filed a $5 million federal lawsuit against Ann Arbor schools alleging racial discrimination.

Shannon Blick filed the lawsuit against the Ann Arbor Public School District, the district board, Superintendent Jeanice Swift and other administrators. Blick had served as principal since September 2013.

Blick is accusing school officials of ousting her from the job in favor of black administrators. The lawsuit claims that she was "treated disparately, harassed, berated, lied to, humiliated, intimidated, threatened and ultimately suspended without notice or cause."

The lawsuit accuses the school district of maintaining a policy of "treating Caucasian and nonminority administrators disparately and less favorably than similarly situated African-American and minority administrators."

Blick is seeking $5 million in significant damages and injuries, including economic loss, extreme emotional distress and damage to business reputation.

AAPS Director of Communications Andrew Cluley released the following statement:

The Ann Arbor Public Schools has not been served with a copy of the complaint. The AAPS does not comment on pending litigation or personnel matters.

Read the full lawsuit below:

Shannon Blick Lawsuit by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd