Former teacher files discrimination lawsuit against U-46
A former bilingual teacher is suing Elgin Area School District U-46 for racial discrimination based on national origin, according to court documents.
Fernando Orozco of Round Lake Beach, says he was fired from Kimball Middle School in Elgin in May without cause or justification by the school's principal, Alan Tamburrino, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court.
Orozco claims Tamburrino made anti-Hispanic comments directed at him and has a history of discriminating against Latino teachers, per the lawsuit. He filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission May 15, which granted Orozco the right to sue.
U-46 spokesman Patrick Mogge said district officials don't typically comment on pending litigation.
"We have received the complaint and are in the process of reviewing it," he said, adding that there would be no further comment from the district or Tamburrino.
Orozco started working with the district as a bilingual modified learning program teacher Aug. 7, 2013. He claims he received positive reviews from Tamburrino, who was his supervisor, but that non-Hispanic teachers working in the same capacity were treated better and provided with technological resources needed for the job that he didn't get. Orozco also claims he was excluded from meetings and other events that his counterparts were invited to attend, according to the complaint.
Tamburrino criticized Orozco for speaking Spanish on the job and called another Hispanic co-worker a stereotypical Latino name other than his own despite being asked not to do so, per the lawsuit.
Orozco was told on March 11 that his employment would not be renewed upon Tamburrino's direction and that he had been replaced by a non-Hispanic employee, according to the complaint.
Orozco is seeking reinstatement of his teaching job with back pay, and if he is not reinstated, the equivalent of two years' salary with reasonable raises. He also is seeking compensatory damages of $300,000, attorney's fees and costs.