Amityville School Board Fires Black Administrator Who Filed Discrimination Complaint

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island school board has voted to fire a black administrator who recently filed a complaint with the New York state Division of Human Rights, accusing the district of racial discrimination.

On Wednesday, the Amityville school board voted unanimously to fire 53-year-old Rodney Wilkins, effective Sept. 3, Newsday reported.

Wilkins did not attend the meeting, and his attorney, Frederick Brewington, said Wilkins wouldn't comment and will "respond appropriately."

Brewington said Wilkins will instead focus on the discrimination complaint he filed against the district last month.

Wilkins claims he was recruited to become the associate principal at Amityville Memorial High School with the goal of addressing racial issues at the school, but that Superintendent Mary Kelly quickly began to undermine his work shortly after he started in 2014.

Wilkins said he was kept out of planning meetings, belittled in front of staff and relocated to a kitchen facility within the administrative building.

Kelly said in a statement earlier this week that the district will vigorously defend itself against the allegations.

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