Gallup-McKinley County schools is suing the federal government.The district says they’re being wrongfully investigated for discriminatory hiring practices, and legal counsel that represents the district says they cannot figure out why.EEOC launches investigationThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, otherwise known as the EEOC, launched an investigation into the school district in August of 2024, alleging that the district was discriminating against Native Americans.A commissioner’s charge was filed by then-EEOC commissioner Andrea Lucas. She has since been appointed by President Donald Trump as the chair of the commission.The charge alleged Gallup-McKinley County Schools was failing to interview or hire employees based on their race, specifically Native Americans. District files lawsuit against EEOCOn August 8th, nearly a year after the charge was filed, the district filed a suit in federal court in response. An excerpt from the suit says Commissioner Lucas “filed the current charge of discrimination against a public school district in which the vast majority of its students and its employees are Native American, asserting broad and vague claims without any factual support of systemic discrimination toward Native Americans.”Legal representatives for the district allege both the charge and investigation by the EEOC lack any sufficient factual basis.Andrew Sanchez, one of the attorneys representing the district, says he has no idea how the allegations in the charge are possible when the district’s staff is “largely” Native American.”I really don’t know. I have no idea what motivated the commissioner who submitted the charge,” said Sanchez to KOAT Tuesday.Sanchez told KOAT he’s been asking the EEOC for any proof of the district’s alleged wrongdoing, but said the commission won’t hand it over until the investigation is finished.Attorney calls charge “fishing expedition””The school district says this is a fishing expedition by EEOC, meaning that they’re just digging around to see if they can find something,” said Chavez.”There’s nothing specific EEOC says otherwise. They say that we have enough information to justify moving forward. And so, the school district is asking a judge to shut this down,” added KOAT legal expert John Day.Day says however, the commission is still within their legal right to investigate, and doesn’t believe a federal judge will stop the investigation.”I would say it’s very unlikely that a federal judge is gonna order that EEOC to stop investigating. But I mean, anything can happen,” said Day.KOAT has reached out to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a comment on the lawsuit, but have not heard back at the time of this publication.
Gallup-McKinley County schools is suing the federal government.
The district says they’re being wrongfully investigated for discriminatory hiring practices, and legal counsel that represents the district says they cannot figure out why.
EEOC launches investigation
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, otherwise known as the EEOC, launched an investigation into the school district in August of 2024, alleging that the district was discriminating against Native Americans.
A commissioner’s charge was filed by then-EEOC commissioner Andrea Lucas. She has since been appointed by President Donald Trump as the chair of the commission.
The charge alleged Gallup-McKinley County Schools was failing to interview or hire employees based on their race, specifically Native Americans.
District files lawsuit against EEOC
On August 8th, nearly a year after the charge was filed, the district filed a suit in federal court in response.
An excerpt from the suit says Commissioner Lucas “filed the current charge of discrimination against a public school district in which the vast majority of its students and its employees are Native American, asserting broad and vague claims without any factual support of systemic discrimination toward Native Americans.”
Legal representatives for the district allege both the charge and investigation by the EEOC lack any sufficient factual basis.
Andrew Sanchez, one of the attorneys representing the district, says he has no idea how the allegations in the charge are possible when the district’s staff is “largely” Native American.
“I really don’t know. I have no idea what motivated the commissioner who submitted the charge,” said Sanchez to KOAT Tuesday.
Sanchez told KOAT he’s been asking the EEOC for any proof of the district’s alleged wrongdoing, but said the commission won’t hand it over until the investigation is finished.
Attorney calls charge “fishing expedition”
“The school district says this is a fishing expedition by EEOC, meaning that they’re just digging around to see if they can find something,” said Chavez.
“There’s nothing specific [the] EEOC says otherwise. They say that we have enough information to justify moving forward. And so, the school district is asking a judge to shut this down,” added KOAT legal expert John Day.
Day says however, the commission is still within their legal right to investigate, and doesn’t believe a federal judge will stop the investigation.
“I would say it’s very unlikely that a federal judge is gonna order that EEOC to stop investigating. But I mean, anything can happen,” said Day.
KOAT has reached out to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a comment on the lawsuit, but have not heard back at the time of this publication.
