Grand Ledge school board candidate files civil rights complaint against district
GRAND LEDGE — A candidate for a school board seat in Grand Ledge has filed a civil rights complaint against the district, claiming school board members and a former superintendent didn't respond when he asked to meet with them.
Jason Devenbaugh, a Mulliken resident with children in Grand Ledge Public Schools, submitted the complaint to the department in June. In it, he said he believes he couldn't get a meeting because he is white.
Devenbaugh was "subjected to other terms and conditions" in March "due to my race" by the school district's Board of Education and its former Superintendent Marcus Davenport, who resigned in July citing "an unforeseen health challenge."
"On March 15, 2022, I emailed the respondent's Board and Superintendent to invite the respondent to discuss concerning matters," read Devenbaugh's complaint. "The respondent did not respond to my request. I am aware of non-White community members who have been invited to meet with the respondent."
Devenbaugh's complaint cites the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits "discriminatory practices, policies, and customs in the exercise of those rights based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status."
The complaint is brief and provides no further details.
Harold Core, a contractor with the state's Department of Civil Rights, confirmed in an email that the department has received the complaint and is investigating but declined to discuss any of the details about the state's investigation "until the case is completely closed."
Board of Education President Jon Shiflett and Vice President Nicole Shannon both declined to comment on Devenbaugh's complaint, referring a State Journal reporter to Miller.
John Miller, an attorney representing the school district, called the complaint "absurd."
"Honestly, I see it as a political stunt," Miller said Monday. "I fully anticipate the Department of Civil Rights will summarily dismiss it."
Devenbaugh, in an email, said the school district "has a history of violating civil rights" but did not elaborate.
He declined to answer questions about the complaint. Devenbaugh is one of four people running for two six-year school board terms in the Nov. 8 election.
"This is why I am running for Grand Ledge Public Schools Board of Education to put the District back on track, and stop treating people differently based on race," Devenbaugh said in his email.
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In a response submitted to the Department of Civil Rights in August by Tim Mullins, an attorney representing Grand Ledge schools, he wrote that Devenbaugh's complaint "lacks both factual and legal merit."
"Despite Mr. Devenbaugh having no right to meet with the Superintendent, the Superintendent has met with him in person and communicated with him via email," Mullins wrote.
Davenport met with Devenbaugh for an hour in October, according to the district's response, and Devenbaugh was invited to participate in a strategic planning session in May.
"The absurdity of it is that (Davenport) met with far more Caucasian parents than African American parents and has given Mr. Devenbaugh a far greater audience than just about anyone," Miller said. "They've talked on the phone and had numerous emails back and forth and Mr. Devenbaugh has never been shy about going to school board meetings and making his beliefs known."
Mullins also wrote that Devenbaugh "has been a vocal critic of the School District’s board of education and administrators," protesting rules the district put in place related to COVID-19 and opposing its "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts."
Staff with the state's Department of Civil Rights investigate complaints to determine their validity, Core said.
"If our investigation determines there's enough evidence to proceed, then the Department of Civil Rights would create a charge on that matter basically saying 'We've investigated and we think this incident happened, and we think it was because of this protected basis,'" Core said.
In that case, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission would make a final determination, Core said.
Bill Barnes, who previously served as the district's assistant superintendent for academic services, took over the top role in August.
Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Why a Grand Ledge school board candidate filed a civil rights complaint
