Schools

Teacher Files Discrimination Suit Against Valley View

Arlette Morris, an RHS teacher since 2004, is seeking $50,000 in damages plus attorneys' fees.

A longtime Romeoville High School special education teacher is accusing Valley View School District of discriminating against her due to her age and the fact that she suffers from several illnesses. 

In the November Will County court filing, 61-year-old Arlette Morris claims she's been harassed by RHS' principal and assistant principal since 2010, according to the Chicago Tribune. Morris reportedly suffers from cerebral palsy, diabetes and other medical conditions.

Derek Kinder has been principal of RHS since August 2010. 

Among other allegations, Morris' lawsuit accuses the principal of asking her, "What else is wrong with you?" when she had to leave her classroom due to low blood sugar. She also claims the district changed her schedule in early 2011, took away assigned classes and did not allow her to teach summer school that year. The suit further alleges that Morris was forced to teach geometry, even though she is not qualified to do so.

The Will County lawsuit also claims approval was given, then rescinded for Morris to teach summer school in 2012, and that in March of that year, school officials suggested "falsely and without basis" that she might improperly touch a student.

Morris filed discrimination charges with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April 2012, according to the suit.

She alleges that Valley View harassed and retaliated against her after learning of the charges. In the lawsuit, Morris also states that she believes the incidents were intended to either force her to quit, or to give officials grounds to fire her.

Click here to read the full Chicago Tribune story.

Valley View Director of School and Community Relations Larry Randa did not respond to a message from Patch regarding the suit. The case is due back in court on March 17.

Morris is seeking $50,000 in damages plus attorneys' fees.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here