School District accused of age discrimination and retaliation

A former adult education teacher in the Oconee public schools is taking the county district to court, alleging age discrimination and retaliation.  The complaint filed yesterday in the Commons Pleas Court names Dr. Martha Lusk the plaintiff and the Oconee School District the defendant.  Lusk is represented by Greenville attorney Brian Arnold.  The court filing states Lusk, 72 years old, is a Pickens County resident who worked for Oconee schools until she was notified that her contract would not be renewed for the current school year.  The lawsuit claims Lusk filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, and received a notice of the right to sue.  The plaintiff’s suit alleges the district terminated her without substantial evidence of unfitness and instead relied on assumptions she could not perform in the classroom because of her age.  It further claims the reasons given for termination “were pretextual to coverup for age discrimination and retaliation” for an earlier charge of discrimination by her.  Lusk seeks a jury trial and seeks lost wages, benefits, front pay, actual damages and compensatory damages, as well as reinstatement or liquidated damages in an amount allowable under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.  On behalf of the district Dr. Michael Thorsland, superintendent, declined to comment.