![\"DuringLastYearsBC\"](\"http:\/\/michaelclara.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/DuringLastYearsBC.jpg\")
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2 October 2016<\/p>\n
DELIVERED VIA USPS PRIORITY MAIL<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Office for Civil Rights, Region VIII \nRe: RESOURCE INEQUITY<\/span><\/b> Acting under the authority of my elected office, and in my official capacity as a member of the Salt Lake City Board of Education, I submit this complaint on behalf of the residents of Salt Lake City, District 2.[1]<\/a> No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.<\/i> [2]<\/a><\/p>\n This complaint will demonstrate that Superintendent Cunningham [3]<\/a> and Board President Heather Bennett [4]<\/a> are denying students, based on race, color and national origin, equal access and opportunity to educational programs and activities of the District. Furthermore, once placed on notice, they failed to take corrective action. More specifically, they are denying students of Horizonte Alternative High School, equal access and opportunity to the postsecondary transitional programs of the District. Horizonte High School has the highest concertation of ethnic minority students when compared to the other High Schools in the District. Consequently, Superintendent Cunningham recently implemented a practice that has a DISPARATE IMPACT<\/b> on the students of Horizonte High School. This complaint will also demonstrate that similarly situated students at less diverse High Schools are treated differently which constitutes DISCRIMINATION<\/b> of treatment.<\/p>\n BACKGROUND<\/b> [1]<\/a> Notwithstanding a local school board’s status as a body corporate, an elected member of a local school board serves and represents the residents of the local school board member’s district, and that service and representation may not be restricted or impaired by the local school board member’s membership on, or obligations to, the local school board. See<\/i> \u00a753A-3-401(5) Utah Code<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [2]<\/a> See 42 U.S.C. \u00a7 2000e\u20132(a)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [3]<\/a> Dr. Cunningham was appointed Superintendent of the Salt Lake City School District \u2013 July 1, 2016<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [4]<\/a> Heather Bennett was elected president to the Salt Lake City Board of Education \u00a0January 2014 and has served on the Board of Education since 2001<\/p>\n PDF Version of the Letter<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2 October 2016 DELIVERED VIA USPS PRIORITY MAIL Office for Civil Rights, Region VIII U.S. Department of Education\u00a0Office Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310 Denver, CO 80204-3582 Re: RESOURCE INEQUITY Complaint Against: Utah State Board of Education & Salt Lake City School District Dear Region VIII, Acting under the authority of my elected office, and in my official capacity as a member of the Salt Lake City Board of … Continue reading
\nU.S. Department of Education\u00a0Office
\nCesar E. Chavez Memorial Building
\n1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310
\nDenver, CO 80204-3582<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Complaint Against: Utah State Board of Education<\/b> & Salt Lake City School District<\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n
\nDear Region VIII,<\/p>\n
\nI have reason to believe that the Utah State Board of Education<\/b> (USBE) and the Salt Lake City School District <\/b>(District) are in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which states:<\/p>\n
\nDuring the month of September 2016, I was made aware that Business Administrator Janet Roberts terminated a contract for College Advisory Services that provided Horizonte Alternative High School with a full-time College Advisor. I sent an email to Superintendent Cunningham asking for an explanation and the following email exchange ensued:<\/p>\n
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