47° CLEAR, Administrator alleges racial discrimination
Last Modified: Friday, December 5, 2008 at 8:21 a.m.
SARASOTA COUNTY - The school system's highest-ranking black administrator is complaining of discrimination, prompting an investigation by the district.
Assistant Superintendent Hal Nelson stated in a memo to Superintendent Lori White that co-workers undermine him, and the district treats him differently because he is black. He cites being excluded from district meetings, denied travel opportunities and told he cannot hire a secretary as examples.
"You have no idea of the pain involved in having to address matters of clear racial harassment and discrimination," Nelson writes.
Nelson also raised concerns that the district does not give him the resources he needs to oversee a federal program to stop students from being wrongly placed in special education.
White responded to all of Nelson's complaints in an e-mail, and says the district will hire an investigator to look into his concerns. She hopes to have the issue settled by the end of the year.
"That you would have this belief is personally upsetting to me because I believe I have always been supportive of you and your work in the school district," White writes. "Let me make clear, I have not taken any action, or withheld any action toward you, because of your race."
The e-mail exchange started with a note from Nelson outlining roadblocks as he tries to implement plans to help struggling students do better before placing them in special education.
The misplacement of students is of particular concern among minority children, who nationwide are often disproportionately placed in special education.
Part of the new federal program's purpose is to make sure that all students -- not just those placed in special education classes -- have access to extra help.
It also aims to prevent wrongfully labeling struggling students with learning disabilities and placing them in special education classes when it is not necessary.
Nationwide, black and minority students are placed in special education classes much more frequently than white children.
While black students made up about 10 percent of Sarasota's school population last year, they represented about a third of children classified with behavior problems or mental handicaps, according to a state report. The state report also shows that black students in Sarasota are more than six times as likely to carry these labels as white children.
The same was true at the state level. While blacks represented about a quarter of Florida students last year, they turned up in much higher numbers in special education programs.
In response to Nelson's letter questioning the district's commitment to the program, White said it is a very broad initiative, and that there are other departments working to implement it and several different funding sources -- not just the ones that fall under Nelson.
Nelson came to Sarasota County in 2005 to serve as the executive director of middle schools. Before that he spent more than 20 years as a teacher and administrator in Hillsborough County.
In 2007, former Superintendent Gary Norris promoted him to assistant superintendent and charged him with overseeing the district's strategic plan, Next Generation Learning.
That same year, Nelson sent several memos to Norris stating that he was told not to express concerns to his supervisor and that his office was moved to an isolated place in the district office.
"Just as many other African-American administrators have found in the past, I find myself in a somewhat uncomfortable position in the School District of Sarasota County," Nelson wrote.
Nelson said Thursday that he has been advised to hold off on comments about his complaints while they are under investigation, but that he is hopeful they can be resolved. "I'm pretty sure that as things start to unfold that there will be some transparency," he said.
This story appeared in print on page BM8
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Comments
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December 5, 2008 3:29:03 pm
RE: Link
He cites being excluded from district meetings, denied travel opportunities and told he cannot hire a secretary as examples.
What does this prove?He said she said. Which district meetings and did other districts have assitants there? I need specifics. What trips were denied and why were they denied?
Teachers have to pay more for their insurance and this administrator wants to take trips? Their raises did not come close to what they must now pay for insurance.I can understand why he was denied trips,if in fact he was denied.
Let him travel to the different schools and see why these kids are placed into the programs. Start a program for the kids that want to receive help. Start or develope a program where these kids can receive help without disturbing the students who are there to learn. They cannot be mainstreamed as they disrupt the class.
I am sorry I have never heard a word from this administrator the last five years.What programs have been placed into effect? What programs have been proposed?If none why not?
December 7, 2008 5:16:13 am
This problem is all too common for minority administrators in Florida public schools. Sarasota county schools seems to have an "unwelcomed" sign for black school leaders.I imagined there are workers under Nelson's supervision who believe there are alternatives to him. They probably complain to other white administrators about him in defiance of his leadership.Instead of redirecting the employee back to Nelson to resolve conflicts, Nelson's superiors question his authority and judgement, effectively usurping what little authority he may have.I have seen this story play-out many times in Florida public schools. The legal problem is that proving this type of behavior occurs because of Nelson's race is difficult..but in my view the question is why can't Sarasota Schools retain black leadership? It seems to me that schoolboard has a standing quota of 1-3 blacks at a time, kill one off--hire one back..
Many black school leaders know that they must be willing to ignore obvious disriminatory policy implementation in many Florida School Districts if they want to retain their own jobs. Moreover, efforts to elevate additional black school leaders is an occupational hazard, in effect 1-3 black school leaders get paid for their silence and sitting on committees as the face of diversity. Good Luck Dr. Nelson, you will need it.....
December 7, 2008 12:59:36 pm
Maybe, just maybe, the problem is not the school board, but the problem is with Nelson? perhaps Nelson is a racist and sees racism because he is projecting his own onto others... I'm just sayin maybe...
December 7, 2008 1:35:19 pm
of course this must be the problem, after all Nelso prolly doesnt know what it is like to grow up poor
December 7, 2008 2:05:29 pm
I'm pretty old now and I've found that no matter where I work, people go out of their way to be non discriminatory. If Mr. Nelson feels he has been discriminated against because he couldn't take trips or go to conferences, perhaps it's because he didn't need to go and just has his nose out of joint because he wanted to feel important - and didn't. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing about how biased or racist everyone is. That dog doesn't hunt any more. Racism goes both ways and it should be stopped in both directions!
December 7, 2008 11:12:24 pm
That dog may not hunt for you but the numbers tell a different story! Maybe Nelson is not fit to lead but why can't Sarasota Schools attract/retain more than their quota of 1-3 Black administrators(in the entire system.
December 8, 2008 7:09:06 am
Goodbye Mr. NelsonFor whatever reason Mr. Nelson is concerned and feels disenfranchised with his position with the School District, he broke one executive rule with behavior of going public that is not acceptable at his level of a position as an assistant superintendent.
You NEVER GO PUBLIC! And you never go public especially in a period where we are having budget shortfalls because of economic conditions. Also his concerns are personal and not reflecting on the primary purpose of his position which is to support the school board's agenda in education the children of the school district.
Mr. Nelson should get his resume oiled and ready because I can't see any future in Sarasota County Schools with his most recent outburst in having "his problems" presented in the area's main local newspaper.
Color of skin isn't the issue here. The issues is Nelson's ability to exercise a proper management motif. He failed at that and unfortunately he has blown any future trust he might have had with this school district's leadership.Superintendent White has a good reason in asking for your resignation under the circumstances.
December 8, 2008 8:40:02 pm
I agree with DuctTape. An administrator at his level does not wash his laundry in public under any circumstances. He may have real issues but he needs to handle them in a more professional manner. Plus Obama won so people will start to tire of hearing about personal professional affronts dressed up as racial issues when their own livelihoods are at stake. White needs her team to do battle with the budget and this is a distraction.
December 9, 2008 3:41:33 am
And that's exactly the problem....the "quota" system, or "affirmative action". Isn't it great how government dictates that we have to hire someone, even if that candidate is the LEAST qualified among the applicants? Then, when they can't make the grade, they cry "Racism!". It was a bad idea decades ago when it started....it's still a bad idea today.
December 10, 2008 2:55:57 am
Your understanding of quotas and affirmative action seems limited. When qualifications are subjective and subjected to the view of a small portion of the population then that population is often overrepresented in the workplace. Sarasota County Schools has a reputation statewide for being one of the most avoided school districts for educators of color. Nevertheless, I do agree that airing of public differences with you employer does not serve a greater good. It takes a special person who is willing and able to endure isolation but at the same time engage their employer in a professional manner about such sensitive issues. Nelson will be another Sarasota School Administrator who migrates north to Manatee County Schools which seems to be the 21st century "underground railroad" and refuge for black administrators fleeing Sarasota.
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