http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/15467749.htm

Posted on Fri, Sep. 08, 2006

Teacher wins $307,000 in discrimination suit
Woman claimed racial harassment

The Associated Press

CHARLESTON - A federal jury awarded a white, former Charleston County middle school teacher $307,000 in damages after deciding she was racially harassed while teaching at a predominantly black school.

Elizabeth Kandrac sued in 2004 claiming she was verbally abused almost daily at Brentwood Middle School in North Charleston.

She left after less than a year when her bike tires were slashed.

Her suit against the Charleston County School District claimed racial discrimination and harassment, breach of contract and retaliation.

The jury decided in her favor after a six-day trial, upholding her claim the district and the school staff did not take her complaints seriously.

"It was a victory for teachers, students and everybody who told the truth about what's happening in the classroom," Kandrac said.

Kandrac's lawyer, Larry Kobrovsky, said the verdict means it will cost school districts that ignore such complaints.

"The message from this day forward is, this kind of behavior has to end," he said.

The district contended Kandrac was a poor teacher who did not maintain order or connect with students.

"If you can get these kids to trust you, they don't see black-white," testified Assistant Principal Reggie Bright, who is white. "We had black teachers and white teachers who couldn't handle the kids."

But the jury of nine white women, two white men and a black woman agreed with Kandrac that the school presented a "hostile work environment."

"I think we felt there was a problem in the school and we didn't feel it was addressed as well as it should have been," said juror Janet Burnsed.

School board member Ray Toler called the ruling "a step in the right direction" to protect the interests of students and staff.

But board chairwoman Nancy Cook said she would favor appealing. She said that is now up to the district's insurance company. If there was discrimination going on, "this board would be all over that," she added.