Former school officials contend racial bias

Administrators say they were bypassed

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two white, former mid-level Pittsburgh Public Schools administrators are suing the district, claiming they were passed over for promotions in favor of younger and less qualified black candidates.

In a pair of lawsuits filed alleging race and age discrimination, the attorney for longtime district employees Vincent Lewandowski, 63, and Cynthia Muehlbauer, 55, wrote that the administration has taken “extraordinary steps to assist African Americans in their pursuit of executive level positions,” support they say wasn’t extended to them.

Ms. Muehlbauer, who has retired, and Mr. Lewandowski, the current principal of Carmalt K-8, contend that “a large number” of white administrators are either “quitting or being forced out of administrative positions.

“These vacancies are being filled predominately by young African Americans” because of the district’s “conscious and deliberate plan” to increase its number of black administrators, the suits claim.

The filings name the district and former superintendent Linda Lane as defendants. Mr. Lewandowski’s also includes former chief of school performance Connie Sims.

Solicitor Ira Weiss said that the district can’t comment on pending lawsuits but that the legal department is reviewing them. Initially filed in January, both are in the discovery phase. Ms. Muehlbauer’s has moved to federal court and Mr. Lewandowski’s complaint remains in state court.

“Usually I'm on the other side representing minorities, but the laws have to be applied across the board,” said their attorney Edward Olds. “... Getting the best candidate without regard to race is the law of the land.”

In April 2014, Mr. Lewandowski was an instructional leadership specialist in the central office working with two assistant superintendents when he applied for one of several open assistant superintendent positions. He said he was told he wasn’t “innovative” enough for the role. Two younger black candidates who didn’t have the required superintendent “letter of eligibility” were chosen and, when they missed the deadline to get the credential, were instead given a modified title. They received the same salary, he said, but couldn’t do one of the tasks critical to that role without that certification.

Further, Mr. Lewandowski said the district retaliated against him when he filed a complaint with the city’s human relations commission, which ultimately resulted in a demotion to Carmalt. He also claimed he was denied raises outlined in his contract.