FARMINGTON, Utah – A federal lawsuit has been filed against the Davis School District, alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment. The lawsuit was brought by a woman who was hired by the district to investigate racial harassment.
The plaintiff, who is Black, claims she was subjected to a hostile work environment and treated differently than her lighter-skinned non-Black colleagues. The lawsuit also accuses the district of failing to address discrimination against both students and employees.
According to the lawsuit, one incident involved a district coordinator allegedly giving the plaintiff a handful of garbage and ordering her to clean up trash during what was supposed to be a meeting to get to know administrators. When the plaintiff refused, it is claimed that the coordinator became upset.
Additionally, the lawsuit states that another employee hired by the district, during a training session, expressed disbelief when discussing the Department of Justice’s investigation into discrimination. The employee reportedly said that she had never heard anyone in the district use a racial slur, leading the plaintiff to challenge her on the district’s issues with racism.
In response to the lawsuit, the Davis School District emphasized its commitment to creating a safe environment for all students, employees, and patrons. They also highlighted their harassment and discrimination policy, which was updated in August 2023 and includes a comprehensive reporting system.
The district provided a statement in which they stated that they would not comment on potential litigation since they had not yet received a copy of the court document.
In summary, a lawsuit has been filed against the Davis School District, alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment. The plaintiff claims that she was treated differently based on her race and that the district failed to address discrimination. The district has stated its commitment to ensuring a safe environment and has a policy in place to handle harassment and discrimination reports.