Suit says Philly schools chief Hite discriminated in Maryland

William R. Hite Jr., now Philadelphia schools chief, discriminated against Prince George's County, Md., administrators because of age and race, a federal lawsuit filed this month alleges.

The Prince George's Association of Supervisory and Administrative School Personnel (ASASP) filed the $100 million class action suit, which also names members of the Prince George's school board, in U.S. District Court in Maryland.

Hite was head of the Prince George's school system until September, when he took the top Philadelphia School District job.

ASASP executive director Doris Reed said Hite replaced about half of all Prince George's principals during his tenure.

A pattern quickly emerged, Reed said, as veteran administrators were targeted and replaced with younger, less experienced ones. Reed said that under Hite and the school board, African American female, and in some cases white, employees were given special treatment.

"It was very obvious," said Reed. "It wouldn't be for cause; people were involuntarily transferred."

In the case of those demoted for cause, "this person may have been a principal for eight, nine, 10 years and always got good evaluations, and all of a sudden, they got so bad they had to be demoted."

In Philadelphia, Hite has identified developing principal leadership as a priority for his administration, though officials had noted that concern well before the new superintendent's arrival.

Robert McGrogan, head of the Philadelphia principals union, said he was aware of the Prince George's suit but not overly concerned by it.

"I'm only interested in the work that's done here," McGrogan said.

Neither the Philadelphia nor the Prince George's County school systems would comment on the suit, citing policies of not discussing pending litigation.