Lawsuit: Riverhead Charter School Principal Made Racist, Sexist Comments To Staff

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The principal at Riverhead Charter School discriminated against his staff on the basis of race, gender, disability and sexual orientation, a lawsuit alleges.

Seventeen former and current members of the staff are suing Principal Raymond Ankrum and the school for $10 million, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.

"From social workers to theatrical teachers to core teachers -- mostly they're caucasian women," said attorney Joseph Dell, who reprsents the plaintiffs. "We represent an African-American teacher who was told that he's black but not black enough.

"When he (Ankrum) came into the position at the Riverhead Charter School, he made a statement that he inherited a group of old, white, ugly teachers," Dell added.

The 50-page lawsuit also alleges Ankrum, who is African-American, posted sexist and racist comments on Twitter.

"He is still at the school because the board of the school is a board appointed by him," Dell said.

School officials have not responded to WCBS 880's requests for comments.