Dean Adrian Mims filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) against Superintendent Bill Lupini and the Brookline Public Schools on April 6, alleging racial discrimination after his unsuccessful application for headmaster this year.
Mims stated that his freedom from employment discrimination, as protected by state and federal laws, was violated and that he suffers emotional distress as a result, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Sagamore from MCAD under the Freedom of Information Act.
Now that the complaint is filed, the town submits its response in a Position Statement, Mims has the opportunity to offer a rebuttal and MCAD investigates and issues a decision.
Nancy Gertner, a retired federal district judge, Harvard Law School professor and parent of BHS alumni, said the MCAD process can take years. “The more complicated, the more high stakes, the longer the cases take. I have had cases resolved in two years, or five or six.”
The Reaction
After The Sagamore broke news of the complaint, students, parents and alumni took to social media to express their thoughts. Reactions continued in the school building, as teachers, staff and students shared thoughts and questions.
“A lot of kids have worked with Dr. Mims and he’s been an inspiration to them as well,” said METCO coordinator Keith Lezama. “So some kids are upset.”
Freshman Dillon McGuire expressed disappointment.
“If it’s true, then that’s awful. It’s really, really bad that that would be a reason that someone would say someone shouldn’t be the headmaster.”
According to Gertner, “The burden of proof is on the person making the complaint.” A complaint consists of “only allegations. Discrimination is not easy to prove; You have to wait until the facts are in.”
Some, like social studies teacher Sam Dickerman, wonder how the public nature of the complaint will affect Brookline’s current staff and future applicant pools.
“It’s really important that the high school attract and retain top minority teachers,” said Dickerman. “On the other hand, maybe it’s the kind of event that wakes people up and reminds us of how important it is to be sensitive. I hope it doesn’t drive away qualified candidates and people in the building whom we should be keeping, and I hope it makes us mindful of being eager to embrace diversity and being respectful. It’s really important.”
Science teacher Steve Lantos, who served on the interview committee during the headmaster search, said he believes Brookline still has work to do.
“I don’t know where this is going. We could be doing more and should be doing more to diversify our staff, especially our leadership,” said Lantos. “I don’t know if this is the right path or way, but I think it would be wonderful to serve under and alongside and African American, a Latino speaking or an Asian headmaster. The day will come. If this is the route to get us there, I just don’t know.”
The Transition
Amidst the MCAD investigation, incoming headmaster Deborah Holman has drafted an entry plan and has talked frequently with Lupini to help ensure a smooth transition into next year.
Lupini said he does not think that the public knowledge of the Mims’ complaint will affect Holman’s entry.
“I respect the people who work here, and I respect that they can separate a new headmaster starting from a charge that someone’s brought and the process that that will go through,” Lupini said. “One won’t impact the other.”
Mims made clear that his complaint is not targeting Holman.
“I’m not saying that she didn’t have the right to become the headmaster,” said Mims. “This doesn’t have anything to do with her.”
Dickerman said he recognized that the public nature of the complaint could impact Holman’s transition.
“It’s too bad too for the incoming headmaster, just because it casts a bit of a shadow over her arrival,” Dickerman said, “but I don’t think it will define her time here.”
According to Lupini, the nature of his conversations with Holman about her entry have not changed due to the public nature of the complaint, except to “let her know that there were people who would support her, that Dr. Richie was here, that there were a number of other people… that wanted to reach out to her to tell her that they were thinking about her and supporting her during this.”
Like Lupini, Mims said he is committed to ensuring a smooth entry for Holman.
“I’m going to work hard to make sure her transition is a successful transition,” said Mims. “I think all of the staff will do the same.”
Mims said he continues to carry on with his job as usual, despite the ongoing MCAD process.
“I wake up every morning looking forward to coming in, working with students, working with my colleagues,” said Mims. “I just put it aside, go about my daily routine doing my job.”
Jake Wolf-Sorokin, Anna Parkhurst and Emma Nash can be contacted at [email protected].
For additional information about Dean of Students Adrian Mims’ MCAD complaint you can check out The Sagamore’s interview with Nancy Gertner.
To check out Boston Globe columnist Adrian Walker’s column on the issues, click here.
For the original report, click here.
