Former administrator contends retaliation in lawsuit against Pittsburgh Public Schools

A former deputy superintendent for the Pittsburgh Public Schools is suing the district for retaliation, alleging his contract wasn’t renewed after he showed support for another employee in a race discrimination complaint.

Anthony Anderson was hired in October 2016 and left the district three years later, serving as the deputy superintendent.

During his employment, Anderson also performed the job duties of chief academic officer and chief of school performance, according to the lawsuit.

Beginning in February 2017, the lawsuit said, Anderson was the direct supervisor to chief executive secretary Kristen Frankovich, who is white.

In March 2019, she filed a charge of discrimination against the district, alleging racism. She claimed that she had been passed over for raises and promotions because of her race

Anderson, who is Black, fully supported Frankovich in her complaint, according to the lawsuit.

“Furthermore, plaintiff informed various members of the defendant’s leadership of his encouragement of and/or support for Ms. Frankovich,” the lawsuit said.

At some point after that, it continued, district communications director Mercedes Williams warned Anderson to “ ‘be careful,’ ” because the district was “ ‘looking into’ ” Frankovich.

On June 19, the complaint said, the district decided Anderson’s contract would not be renewed.

“[Anderson] believes … that his employment contract was not renewed in retaliation for his encouragement of and/or support for Ms. Frankovich’s protected activity of filing a charge of discrimination with the [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] and [Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission],” the lawsuit said.

After learning he would not be renewed, Anderson asked to be paid for the additional job duties he had performed — requesting nearly $60,000.

“Defendant refused to compensate the plaintiff for the additional work that he had completed, despite having compensated other administrators for performing supplementary job duties,” the lawsuit said.

Anderson alleges the refusal to pay was in retaliation for his support of Frankovich in her discrimination complaint.

The Law Offices of Joel Sansone is representing both Anderson and Frankovich.

School solicitor Ira Weiss said the district will vigorously defend the lawsuit, and that the board had the right not to renew Anderson’s contract.

“We believe the facts of the case will demonstrate the district acted properly and without any improper motive,” he said.