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Greece School District Failing in Diversity

By Dave McCleary
Fri, Jun 12, 2009

A Greece School District substitute teacher, who was fired recently after filing a discrimination complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights, was handed a preliminary win in his case.

John E. Niles, Jr., an African American, former substitute teacher with the District since 2006 alleges that the Greece School District denied him full-time employment because of his race.

Niles is a New York State Certified English Language Arts Teacher with a Masters Degree and is pursuing a doctorate. He says he was fired after he began questioning the District's hiring practices. "Not being given a full-time position in the District is one thing, but what makes me angry is the fact that they did not even grant me an interview."

Niles says the district continued to hire younger, less experienced, white English Language Arts teachers while ignoring his pleas to be interviewed for a position.

In their ruling, New York State Division of Human Rights found "probable cause" that the Greece School District engaged in "unlawful discriminatory practice" against Niles regarding his race, color, age and sex.

Greece School District Superintendent, Steve Achramovitch said he could not comment on the Niles' case because "there's an on-going investigation" but explained that he stood by the district's position.

Greece resident, Navlette James, says she is not surprised by New York State's preliminary ruling in the Niles case. "There have been many incidences of racial tension within the district," she says. "And, when you begin look at the number of positions that African Americans hold within the Greece school system you realize that the numbers are just not there… there's a reason for that."

The Greece School District is comprised of 20 schools with approximately 13,000 total students. Approximately 13% of the districts students are of African American descent. Of the 1,180 teachers employed by the district, 9 of them are African American. The English Language Arts department employs 80 teachers. None of them are African American.

James, who works as a diversity facilitator, along with several other minority parents in the district, were having monthly meetings with Achramovitch to discuss issues of diversity and race relations within the district. The meetings began in the summer of 2007 and lasted for about a year. They came as a result of an incident where a white student threatened to kill black students on a certain day at Olympia High School.

The incident (which received little media attention) was a major concern for parents and students of all races connected to Olympia high school. "We were concerned because our children were calling home saying that they were afraid," James explained. For more than a week school administrators neglected to notify parents of the threat "About a week later we (parents) did receive a letter from the principal explaining that the situation had been handled, but that wasn't enough," James said.

"We felt like more needed to be done by the district to ease the growing racial tension and to help create a better learning environment for all students," she explains.

On the day the threat was to have been carried out about half of the approximately 1,100 students at Olympia were absent.

James notes that although Achromovich appeared extremely receptive and eager to champion the issues, little has been accomplished since then. 'We would like to see tangible changes within the district," she said.

Achramovitch notes that the Greece School District remains committed to the issue of diversification. "Every district has a goal of diversity; but we just don't see a significant number of minority candidates applying for jobs," Achromovich said. He explains that some of the district's efforts to recruit African American teachers include participation in "Today's Students, Tomorrow's Teachers", a program designed to encourage current students to pursue degrees in education and then return to the district to teach.

One Greece School District employee who did not wish to be identified said the Greece School District has a culture of discrimination. "The notion that the district can not find qualified African American teachers is absolutely lame. In order for change to happen, there has to be real commitment towards changing."

Please give us your feedback, comments, etc...

Let us not forget the Rochester City Schools. While the student body make-up is well above 85% African and Latino American; the staffing in the schools is well above 85% Caucasion prompting the same racism experienced in the suburban districts. How many African Americans are Principals in the Rochester City High Schools? Compared to suburban districts who hire staff that look like the majority of the students they serve, how many African American and Latino American Administrators, Counselors, Social Workers and Psychologists and Teachers are visible role models to city youth? There are schools in the Rochester City School District with only one African American American Administrator, one African American Counselor, or a part-time social worker or psychologist visible to our youth. There are academic departments within our city schools without any African American staff. With the budget cuts, the general rule is that "last hired means first fired", and newly hired African American teachers are generally the first to go. What makes matters even worst, the most senior African American staff in district schools are harassed and treated unfairly so as to encourage them to retire. Thus, making it possible for young and inexperienced caucasians to replace them. Shame on the Rochester City Schools!
RCSD Employee

With Mr. Niles this is not a discrimination issue. I have seen him teach and it looks like he has no experience in a classroom. I would like to know what institution he attended and received his degree.

Did not know anything about this until I read it in the MR. I must have missed on the nightly NEWS(haha)Persevere, persevere.
Barbara

diversity is the characteristic of being diverse; the prefix di sugests that there must be two or more (several, different); diverse does not mean black; black is black (I want my baby back)
Roy Chapman

While I agree that Mr. Nile's case is one worth pursuing, I have to question the lack of outcry by the community in another area of the Greece Central School District. I won't bother you with my thoughts on the matter, as they will probably become quite evident through the statistics I wish to present you with. Please take a moment to view the following statistics: PINEBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Racial/Ethnic Origin American Indian or Alaska Native- 0% Black or African American-3% Hispanic or Latino-2% Asian or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander-2% White-92% Eligible for Free Lunch-6% Eligible for Reduced-Price Lunch-5% LONGRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Racial/Ethnic Origin American Indian or Alaska Native- 0% Black or African American-11% Hispanic or Latino-9% Asian or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander-2% White-78% Eligible for Free Lunch-33% Eligible for Reduced-Price Lunch-19% Now with any luck these statistics have gotten your attention. These simply describe the demographics of two K-5 schools in the Town of Greece. One of these schools routinely boasts state test scores far superior to the other. Would you care to guess which one? Right, it's Pinebrook Elementary. On the surface one might shrug this off saying to themselves, "One just has a better environment to learn in". This is probably true in many regards, however, what if I were to tell you that Pinebrook is what's called a "lottery school"? A lottery school in Greece is one that's (allegedly) needs to be applied to. A parent places their child on a list of hopefuls, and the district holds a lottery deciding who gets to attend. When the "lottery" is held... no one knows. Where the "lottery" is held... no one knows. Can we see the "lottery" take place in person... Absolutely not. The fact is even seeing it in person would not eliminate the wrong doings in regard to the segregation taking place in Greece. There are a total of 20 schools in Greece, three of which are "lottery schools". I could continue to present you with similar statistics showing the demographic differences between our "lottery schools" and those the "other" kids attend. In doing so, you would continue to see similar gaps in the same categories. Bare in mind, the Longridge Elementary school used in this example was not the furthest I could reach in that regard. Take Parkland Elementary School for example: PARKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Racial/Ethnic Origin American Indian or Alaska Native- 0% Black or African American-26% Hispanic or Latino-9% Asian or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander-3% White-62% Eligible for Free Lunch-45% Eligible for Reduced-Price Lunch-9% Trust me, I could go on and on. My question to you is: Does this seem just? Should we as a community have to take this? The problem is with so many of us having children within the district, frankly were worried about speaking out against those in control. It is a well known (and denied) fact that those in power (Board of Education members, Town Officials, District Employees, ect.) seem to always win the school "lottery" for their children, and as a result get quite agitated when these facts are brought up. D&C reporter Meagan McDermott has also been given these statistics, but good luck finding this story anywhere but here! Yours Truly, Parent Looking For Justice P.S. The statistics I've written here are facts. Those and others like them can be found at: https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb/District.do?county=MONROE&district=260501060000&year=2007 just go under the Accountability and Overview Report section for each school.
Parent Looking For Justice

I have been a substitute with the GCSD for two years. I have noticed a glaring absence of any Teachers of Color. Most days the only people of color I see in a building is the custodian and the lunchroom folks. In this day and age with so many qualified applicants looking to teach our children it's hard to believe that the Greece SD can't locate them. Seems like Greece is having a hard time with it's "shiny metro-suburban" reputation lately, what with the Police department under investigation, arresting a Mother who was seeking to have her children attend their schools, and now not wanting diversity in their teaching staff.... It's a huge disservice to their students not enlightening their education with diversity. They are not preparing their students for life in the real world where they will have to be able to relate to people from all walks of life.
Anon

Well, firstly, bravo for Minority Reporter for picking up on this ... shame on City Newspaper and Democrat & Chronicle. Secondly, good for Mr. Niles for NOT tolerating this continued sick, on-going nonsense - racism. It is best and healthier to expose it. Here, however, I would warn even Minority Reporter for confusing the usage of the word 'race' for issues of 'racism'. They are very different, with very different meanings and implications. Let me briefly, explain: Discussions on or matters of 'race' are anthropological or socio-anthropological. Defining 'racism' or in this instance, identifying 'racism' is when one group, individual, institution or organization or church, quite frankly, supposes and imposes a position, or makes a decision from a self-defined perch of superiority over a self-defined inferiority w/matters based solely on the color of one's skin; texture, length, color of one's hair; shape or size of one's nose, etc. There's an predicated assumption, ungrounded; a steep ignorance of differences (anthropological)whereas 'racism' is suggesting treatment of people as though one group is ordained as superior or preferred. And I am not talking just about aesthetics - but a state of mind. Purely subjective. THAT'S racism. ie. Mr. Niles v. Greece School District. Over generations that racism has manifested as second nature for many causing the craziest kind of treatment known to mankind, of people of color w/equal credit toward deviant behavior towards those who are racist. Please note: "Reverse racism" is near impossible. A final note: One should not confuse being hired in a given employment situation (that would be the "old" discrimination")- the test of racism IS in fact just how one is treated. Is one given the process? Is the process equal or with double-standard? Is there duplicity and can one record or document it? Does the process add up? What has been allowed is for too long, too many people accept the word 'Race' (a legitimate term when used correctly) for the process of 'racism'. It doesn't add up. Good luck Mr. Niles!
Mrs. G.P. Dickerson-Hanks

When I first came to this area I applied in the Greece School District. I called several times and then went up to the district office. I never received an interview...not even a call back. I had to keep calling...finally I gave up.The problems that this school district is facing is not at all unfamiliar. Northern schools in general which have been quietly segregated for decades under defacto segregation are now experiencing growth as more people move into surburban school districts. I hope the case is resolved in the favor of Mr. Niles! I am sure that many other qualified teachers of color have had the same difficulty.
Karen Culley

I wish someonne would take a look at the Churchville/Chili District as well - I have been involvedd in racial issues at that district since 1995 with no positive results.....
Vivian A. Cook-Johnson

MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED IN 1976 AND SON IF NOT MISTAKEN 1980 ?.MY DAUGHTER,WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO GRADUATE,STARTING AT BEGINNING AND GRADUATING.MY SON WAS IN SPECIAL ED, BUT TRANSFERED TO REGULAR CLASS IN 8TH GRADE AND GRADUATE AT 12TH GRADE,TO GO ON TO WILBERFORCE, IN OHIO.MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM BUFFALO STATE AND HAS PURSUED FURTHER DEGREES SINCE THEN.AT THAT TIME,WE WHERE THE THIRD BLACK FAMILY IN GREECE? TO THE DAY MY SPIRITUAL HOME IS STILL IN GREECE,GREECE BAPTIST CHURCH.GREECE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE TIMES AND HAVE MANY THEACHERS OF ALL NATIONALITIES.SHAME ON YOU!!!! THE GREAT MS. STUBBS
ELLEN H. STUBBS 1963 _1986

This is absolutely ridiculous. I have had African American teachers in Greece before... as a matter of fact one was paired to teach ELA and S.S. with another teacher and is now an administrator. Greece Central is not racist... they hire on a person's ability to perform a job successfully and if they decided not to hire Mr. Niles, it was with good cause- not because he was black. Throwing the race card is racist in itself!
Greece Student

Someone needs to look at the discrimination going on in the Hazelwood School district in St. Louis Missouri. It is predominately African-American students, however African-American teachers are not being hired as much as white teachers and some African-American staff have been removed in the last 5 years.
Sanders

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