Community | September 12, 2008 | 5 comments

School fires teacher because he is HIV-positive

source: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid61275.asp

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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is filing a suit against a Maryland school for allegedly firing a teacher because he is HIV positive.

From 2003 to 2006, Chauncey Stevenson taught second grade and after school music classes at a Maryland school. Even though he received good evaluations from his supervisors, his contract was not renewed.

"They were advised that he was HIV-positive and he was fired, despite the fact that he wanted to come back to work," EEOC attorney Jacqueline H. McNair told the Sun. "He was a good teacher and well-liked."

Stevenson first filed a complaint, but when the school did not offer a settlement, the EEOC decided to sue.

The EEOC says Chesapeake Academy violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which defines HIV as a disability, therefore making it unlawful to wrongfully terminate someone with the virus.

"From our perspective we did not feel the decision we made had anything to do with the disability," head of school at Chesapeake Academy Jay Scheurle said in a statement. “We intend to defend the claim vigorously.” Stevenson’s lawsuit intends to force the Academy to create a safety net in its policy for other faculty members, ensuring wrongful termination cannot happen again. He also seeks back pay and “front pay with prejudgment interest.”
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5 comments // School fires teacher because he is HIV-positive

  • sickinjersey
  • khromadjo
  • Notblueatall
    • 0
      Notblueatall  

    • Igorance is running rampant in this country and it sickens me. With so much information available for free and with laws protecting people in this situation you'd think we'd all be together on this. Sadly it just takes one bad apple (or conservative freak out) as they say...

    • 3 years ago
  • marjosa
  • passjay
    • 0
      passjay  

    • This has class action suit written all over it--remember the film Philadelphia, hint hint. How can a teacher be fired for being HIV positive? The only way that you can catch HIV, is by the spreading of needles, blood transfusion and sexual intercourse. So unless the teacher is a smack head, banging the students, or performing a blood transfusion, i think that the kids are in the clear.

    • 3 years ago
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