Three sue East St. Louis District 189 over demotions

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Three employees are suing East St. Louis School District 189 after they said they were demoted and lost pay for supporting the candidates who opposed the school board president.

Anthony Tarvin, Ferris Williams and James Thomas filed suit in federal court on Monday, asking a judge to reinstate them to their positions and pay and make the district pay for their legal fees until a jury can hear their case.

"We are going to ask for a quick hearing," said Tom Kennedy, the lawyer who is representing the three men. "I am hopeful we will get one."

School Board President Lonzo Greenwood could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Tarvin, a Democratic precinct committeeman, worked as the carpenter foreman, earning a salary of $67,000 including overtime. Williams, also a Democratic precinct committeeman, worked as an in-house suspension coordinator and coach, earning a salary of $40,000. Thompson, vice-president of the teacher's union, worked as a coordinator of security, earning a salary of $70,000.

Greenwood and Back to Basics candidates Khalil El-Amin, Kinnish Williams and George Mitchom ran in the April 7 school board election.

Tarvin, Williams supported opposing candidates Joe Lewis and Carl Officer. Thompson, along with the union membership, endorsed Lewis and Officer and made a $5,000 contribution to their campaigns, the lawsuit stated.

Officer was elected to the board.

Less than two weeks later, the board demoted the three men and reduced their salaries. Tarvin was demoted from a maintenance supervisor to carpenter and his $67,0000 salary was reduced to $51,107; Thompson was demoted from coordinator of security to attendance officer and his salary went from $70,000 to $37,000; and Williams was demoted from in-house suspension coordinator to attendance officer, with his salary reduced from $40,000 to $32,788, the suit stated.

The board also eliminated their former positions.

The suit, which was filed Monday, alleges those actions violated Tarvin, Williams and Thompson's civil right to free speech.

No date has yet been set in the case.