A federal agency has filed a lawsuit against USD 245 Southern Coffey County after the district allegedly violated U.S. federal law by paying a female principal less than it paid her male predecessor for the same job requirements based on skill, effort and responsibility.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) suit, Julie Rosenquist was hired by the district in May 2015 to become the principal of both Gridley Elementary and Southern Coffey County Middle School. The suit says her male predecessor was paid a base salary of $50,000, but that Rosenquist was paid only 90 percent of that, or $45,000. In 2016 after almost a year as principal, Rosenquist complained about the unequal pay and was given a small raise to $46,500. Then in 2017, when she was replaced by another male, whom USD 245 paid $50,000, she filed a complaint with the EEOC.
According to meeting minutes, Rosenquist replaced Russ Mildward as the principal in 2015. Mildward was then elevated to the role of superintendent replacing Dr. Bobbi Williams. Jay Applegate has served as principal since July 2017.
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 prohibits companies from paying women and men unequally for doing a job with the same required skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. The lawsuit was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
