ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

noted that none of these reasons had ever been provided prior to this point nor were any of the
concerns documented on any of her personnel evaluations by Moylan except one. Cleanliness of
the school building had been identified in the non-discriminatory reasons for reassigning Hinson,
and it was an area listed for improvement in her personnel evaluations. Ironically, the assistant
principal in charge of school cleanliness was Tison--her replacement.
Finally, the board’s assertion that Hinson’s talents were better employed at a district level
were illogical in so much that what they were asking her to do in the new job were tasks that she
was already completing as principal.
Disposition: The U.S Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed in part, reversed
in part, and remanded to the district court.
Citation: Black v. Columbus Public Schools, 124 F. Supp. 2d 550, (2000 U.S. Dist.).
Key Facts: Marie Black served the Columbus Public Schools (CPS) for over 30 years.
Her last 4, ending with her acceptance of retirement/disability, were markedly rocky. Black
served as an assistant principal at Mifflin Alternative School, which was, for lack of a better
term, a magnet school for foreign languages and international studies. According to Black, it was
a more prestigious work appointment in CPS as there was a much more stringent process to be
selected for the alternative school positions than at the normal high schools. Black was
impeccably qualified for the school with degrees in foreign languages and minors in international
studies as well as appropriate teaching certifications. She had worked in this capacity since 1987
alongside Principal, Stephen Tankovich.
Until 1991, Black maintained that she and Tankovich had a good working relationship.
However, during the 1991-1992 school year, Tankovich and Cynthia Stanley (a parent volunteer)
initiated a relationship that would come under great scrutiny. Both were believed to be engaging
178