In Portage, Michigan, a lawsuit has been filed against the Portage Public Schools district by the parents of two students, citing a failure to adequately address a "racially hostile" environment within the schools. Submitted in December 2024 to the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan, the lawsuit names several defendant parties including the district itself, the principal, assistant principal, a counselor, and a bus driver of Portage West Middle School (PWMS).
According to the claimants, Adam Baylis III and his wife Nakia S. Baylis, the legal guardians of the minors identified only as A.B. and G.B., their children were subjected to various forms of racial discrimination. Among the allegations, it’s claimed that a bus driver referred to as Robert Hayworth, chased A.B. and called him derogatory names, leading to an incident where the child hurt his ankle while escaping.
The family’s complaints extend beyond verbal assaults. It’s alleged that A.B. received racially charged text messages from peers including severe racial slurs. One specific reported text stated, “3 K’s a day keeps the n—as away,” sent by a white student who was later suspended, according to documents.
Lawyers representing the district are pushing for a dismissal of the case, arguing that the provided evidence and claims do not substantiate a lawsuit. They assert that many of the claims are protected under qualified immunity, and under the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, they claim there is insufficient ground to hold the district liable for the students’ conduct.
Alexandria Taylor, attorney for the Baylis family, counters that the severity and nature of the instances reported override any claims of qualified immunity. She stresses that the school district had the means and responsibility to address and mitigate these behaviors through existing policies and procedures.
Despite evidence including a video of the altercation involving the bus driver being presented to school administrators, the district’s response denies any racial motivation behind the incidents. They acknowledge, however, that such incidents, which were reported to the administration, did result in disciplinary actions against the involved students.
Upon seeking further recourse, the plaintiffs turned to the FBI’s Grand Rapids office, which advised that local authorities and the school district were better equipped to handle the matter.
The lawsuit further highlights ongoing concerns about the systemic nature of racial issues within the district. The Baylis family, although having moved their children to a different school, continue to hear from other parents about similar experiences faced by Black students in the district.
Alexandria Taylor outlined that beyond seeking justice for the individual incidents involving A.B. and G.B., the lawsuit aims to address and effect systemic changes within the Portage Public School system to ensure such incidents are eradicated and no students have to endure such experiences.
In light of these unsettling allegations, the community and its stakeholders await the outcomes of this legal battle, hoping for actions that affirm the district’s commitment to a safe and equitable educational environment for all students.
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