South Florida

District Accused of Demoting Employee for Maternity Leave

Federal officials are suing a South Florida school district, claiming an assistant principal was demoted for taking maternity leave.

The Department of Justice filed a complaint Wednesday against the School District of Palm Beach County. It says the former Turning Points Academy administrator, Anne Williams Dorsey, was subjected to unlawful changes to her work hours and pay after taking maternity leave, a violation of the Civil Rights Act.

The suit says the former principal of Turning Points Academy demoted Dorsey in 2011 and replaced her with a man she had previously trained. The complaint also says the principal retaliated against Dorsey because she reported another female employee's sexual harassment allegations.

District spokeswoman Kathy Burstein said in an email that the district is working with the Department of Justice and has already made many changes since the allegations were first made.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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