Monett football coach Mauk suing Springfield Public Schools

Claims he was retaliated against for reporting racial, age discrimination at former employer SPS

Ben Mauk, the head coach of the Monett Cubs football team, is suing his former employer, the Springfield Public School District, for allegedly retaliating against him after he reported age discrimination against a co-worker and racial discrimination against a student. The petition by Mauk in which he made the allegations against the district was filed in the Greene County Circuit Court on Friday, Sept. 13.
According to the petition, Mauk claimed that while he was a football coach at Glendale High School in Springfield, he was a witness to age discrimination against a co-worker, and that he participated as a witness in the employee’s lawsuit against the district and filed his own report of age discrimination against the employee.
The petition also states that on July 27, 2023, Mauk “made a report of race discrimination and retaliation against an African American student of the district and his being an indirect witness to the unlawful prohibited conduct.” That same day, according to the petition, Mauk also reported retaliation by employees of the district.
Mauk also claimed in the petition that his employment with Springfield Public Schools was terminated on Aug. 14, 2023 for his reporting the conduct. He also claimed the district failed to investigate the reported conduct, in violation of their own policy.
Afterwards, Mauk filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Missouri Commission of Human Rights, the petition stated, and Mauk was given a letter “informing him of his right to pursue independent legal action.”
In his petition, Mauk is asking that the courts declare that he was retaliated against by the district, punitive damages against the district, backpay from the time of his termination and all legal fees, as well as any “relief the Court deems just and proper.”
In response to a media inquiry, Stephen Hall, chief communications officers for the Springfield Public School, provided the following statement from the district:
“Continued legal action by the Mauk family is without merit. It is unfortunate that the facts are being misconstrued to seek financial gain, especially against a public entity serving children. We remain confident that our staff have, at all times, acted appropriately, lawfully and consistent with Board of Education policies and law. The district will continue to defend itself against frivolous legal action.”