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The white former principal of East Iberville School has filed a federal lawsuit claiming she was demoted from the job in a case of reverse discrimination.
Maria S. Delouise filed the suit for unspecified monetary damages in U. S. District Court in Baton Rouge naming as defendants the Iberville Parish School Board, Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr., Board President Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel and former St. Gabriel Mayor George L. Grace Sr.
She alleged Cancienne promised Lodge and Grace, both black, she would be demoted so East Iberville could have an African American principal.
In her lawsuit, Delouise claims Cancienne told her “this is not about your job performance. This is about the color of our skin. You are not the right color for this job. They want a Black principal.”
At its last meeting, the School Board held a closed-door meeting to discuss the suit and then hired Baton Rouge attorney Michael R. Fontham of law firm Stone, Pigman.
Delouise is represented by attorneys Robert L. Campbell and J. Parker Larysson.
Delouise was moved from East Iberville in April 2010 to Plaquemine High School, where she was named acting principal in December.
According to her suit, she filed a racial discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March and was demoted to librarian in May.
Before being named as principal at East Iberville, Delouise was the school's librarian. She now is the librarian at White Castle High School.
The white former principal of East Iberville School has filed a federal lawsuit claiming she was demoted from the job in a case of reverse discrimination.
Maria S. Delouise filed the suit for unspecified monetary damages in U. S. District Court in Baton Rouge naming as defendants the Iberville Parish School Board, Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr., Board President Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel and former St. Gabriel Mayor George L. Grace Sr.
She alleged Cancienne promised Lodge and Grace, both black, she would be demoted so East Iberville could have an African American principal.
In her lawsuit, Delouise claims Cancienne told her “this is not about your job performance. This is about the color of our skin. You are not the right color for this job. They want a Black principal.”
At its last meeting, the School Board held a closed-door meeting to discuss the suit and then hired Baton Rouge attorney Michael R. Fontham of law firm Stone, Pigman.
Delouise is represented by attorneys Robert L. Campbell and J. Parker Larysson.
Delouise was moved from East Iberville in April 2010 to Plaquemine High School, where she was named acting principal in December.
According to her suit, she filed a racial discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March and was demoted to librarian in May.
Before being named as principal at East Iberville, Delouise was the school's librarian. She now is the librarian at White Castle High School.
