Chicago school board settles pregnancy discrimination case

CHICAGO (AP) - The Justice Department said Wednesday that it has settled a lawsuit it filed against the Chicago Board of Education alleging pregnancy discrimination against teachers.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago last December, said the board had a pattern of discrimination against pregnant teachers at Scammon Elementary School that resulted in the women receiving lower performance evaluations and threats of termination.

Under the terms of the settlement, the board must pay $280,000 in back pay and compensatory damages to eight women and change its personnel policies to guard against discrimination based on gender and pregnancy. It also must establish training requirements that reinforce a commitment to a workplace without gender-based discrimination.

Chicago Public Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit stems from complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made by teachers at Scammon Elementary School. Federal officials say the EEOC tried to resolve the case before referring it for litigation.

"This settlement puts in place meaningful measures to eradicate the kind of antiquated thinking that resulted in the loss of these dedicated female educators from Scammon Elementary School," said Julianne Bowman, director of EEOC's Chicago District.

In 2009, the Chicago school board settled a pregnancy discrimination complaint with the Justice Department, agreeing to pay $45,000 in lost back pay and compensatory damages to a former teacher.