On June 23, 2005, the United States Department of Justice (D.O.J.) filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e. et seq., in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Texas against the Weimar Independent School District. The D.O.J. sought injunctive and monetary relief, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against an applicant for employment on the basis of race.

The complaint alleged that the applicant for employment was denied the position of high school principal because of her race and that the defendant refused to take appropriate action to remedy the effects of the discriminatory treatment.

On the same day the complaint was filed, the parties jointly moved for entry of a consent decree. The District Court (Judge Lee H. Rosenthal) entered the consent decree on June 27, 2005. The consent decree provided for both specific and general relief. The specific relief awarded monetary damages to the applicant for employment and required the defendant to give fair, objective, non-retaliatory, and nondiscrimination consideration to any application that may be submitted by her in the future. The general relief provided that: (1) the defendant shall not engage in any act or practice that discriminates against an employee or application because of race in violation of Title VII; (2) the defendant shall not take race into account while making employment decisions; (3) the defendant shall not retaliate against any person for opposing discrimination, participating in any investigation, or exercising any rights protected by Title VII; (4) the defendant shall implement hiring and selection procedures that ensure neither race nor any other prohibited characteristics are used to discriminate against qualified applicants; (5) the defendant shall implement complaint and selection procedures designed to prevent or correct discrimination, including retaliation, under Title VII; (6) the defendant shall train all persons involved in the hiring and selection of faculty and administrators on the law of equal employment opportunity, including, but not limited to, discrimination based on race. The consent decree also imposed a record-keeping requirement on the defendant.

The court retained jurisdiction for the duration of the consent decree, but administratively closed the case on June 27, 2005.

Kaitlin Corkran - 03/24/2008


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