Ex-Radnor Middle School principal sues after dismissal
“Purnell disputes all reasons for her termination as unsubstantiated, meritless, exaggeration and pre-text to the underlying discrimination and retaliation. Similarly situated non-African American employees including principals and assistant principals were treated more favorably than plaintiff Purnell with regard to discipline, suspension and termination.”
— Federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Esther Purnell, the former Radnor Middle School principal, against the Radnor Township School District
RADNOR >> Esther Purnell, the former Radnor Middle School principal, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Radnor Township School District, alleging that she has been discriminated against for her race, color, gender and age.
In addition to the district, the suit also names Superintendent Kenneth Batchelor and Maureen McQuiggan, director of secondary teaching and learning, as defendants.
“The district as a matter of policy and practice stands firmly against discrimination in any form,” said Michael Petitti, a district spokesman, on Friday.
It had not yet been served with the lawsuit, he said.
In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court on Feb. 12, Purnell, 58, who was appointed principal in 2012, notes that Radnor Middle School was named a Blue Ribbon School for overall academic excellence by the U.S. Department of Education in 2016. Prior to Batchelor being appointed superintendent in 2017 and McQuiggan being named to her position a few months later, Purnell had “no negative performance reviews or disciplinary history worth note,” the suit said. But in 2017, after a negative community-wide survey, the principal and staff at the school were placed under review.
“The allegedly negative surveys were never disclosed,” the suit said.
Purnell asked for a list of McQuiggan’s concerns, which was later shared with the staff, according to the lawsuit. Purnell was surprised several months later that McQuiggan issued a performance review that said that she “needs improvement” for the 2016-17, school year using the list of concerns, the suit said. That was the only negative performance review that Purnell had ever received and McQuiggan had not been her supervisor for that year.
On June 25, 2018, Purnell met with Batchelor and McQuiggan, according to the lawsuit. Batchelor discussed her retirement and then brought in McQuiggan. Batchelor became “accusatory,” and McQuiggan was “critical of Purnell and the middle school,” the suit stated.
In September 2018, Purnell met with Batchelor to discuss her treatment, which she deemed discriminatory based on her race, color, age and gender, according to the lawsuit. She told him that she would make a complaint to the state Human Relations Commission. Todd Stitzel, the director of human resources, met with her a few days later. Suddenly, her supervisors “began adding significance to matters surrounding [her] employment that were not treated or considered significant previously.”
In October, Batchelor issued a memo that summarized his meetings with Purnell, according to the lawsuit. In it, he “credits plaintiff Purnell with having complained about the lack of sensitivity to persons of color in the district,” the suit said. The memo also said that Purnell felt “bullied” and “McQuiggan doesn’t know how to speak to persons of color,” according to the lawsuit. More meetings ensued, including a November meeting that Purnell was unable to get to due to bad weather. Staff and employees “showed hostility” to Purnell for not being able to attend it.
At a Nov. 27 meeting, district officials discussed some of the previous issues but also brought up new topics, according to the suit. That same day, Purnell was suspended and given 30 minutes to leave the premises. She had to forward her emails to the two assistant principals, both Caucasian males, the suit notes. Later, the district hired an interim principal to replace her who is also a while male, the suit said.
On Dec. 14, Purnell came back for a meeting and was given a notice that the administration was recommending that the school board fire her and she was then placed on unpaid suspended status, according to the lawsuit.
“Purnell disputes all reasons for her termination as unsubstantiated, meritless, exaggeration and pre-text to the underlying discrimination and retaliation,” the lawsuit said. “Similarly situated non-African American employees including principals and assistant principals were treated more favorably than plaintiff Purnell with regard to discipline, suspension and termination.”
Also, her firing was close in time to having filed a civil rights complaint with the state, which is a protected activity, the suit said.
“As a direct and proximate result of defendant RTSD’s discrimination, (Purnell) has suffered loss of wages including loss of back pay, loss of front pay, loss of amenities of employment, out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering, inconvenience, emotional damages, loss of reputation, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other similar damages, all to [her] great detriment,” the suit said. The school district’s actions were “willful and wanton and thus require the imposition of punitive damages.”
The lawsuit also demands that the district pay Purnell’s attorney fees.
Purnell, now living in New Castle, Del., who has more than 30 years of experience as an educator, joined the district as an emotional support teacher in 2002. She was subsequently promoted to assistant principal and then principal.
Purnell declined to comment specifically about the lawsuit on Friday.