PHILIPPI — A man is suing the Barbour County Board of Education alleging he was discriminated and retaliated against.
Glenn E. Lockey was hired as a substitute bus operator on April 12, 2021, and was then hired as a full-time bus operator a few months later, with an annual salary of $18,160.40, according to a complaint filed in Barbour Circuit Court.
Lockey claims he was advised by the superintendent of transportation that if he ever saw anything suspicious or wrong with the buses he needed to report it.
On Aug. 28, 2021, Lockey was yelled at by his supervisor for writing up a work order over an issue with the brakes on a bus and the supervisor, Dave Wilson, sought to humiliate the plaintiff in front of other employees, according to the suit.
Lockey claims he complained about the behavior of his supervisor to the superintendent of schools in Barbour County.
Lockey claims he continued to be harassed because of the incident and the defendant took no action. He made several requests for something to be done about the incident, as well as requests to fix safety issues with his bus.
On Oct. 3, 2021, Lockey was left with no other choice due to the continued harassment and retaliation and had to resign from his employment, according to the suit.
Lockey claims the defendants have since interfered with his attempt to get a job at other employers after the resignation.
The defendant's retaliation was in violation of the state's whistleblower statute, according to the suit.
"Based upon the unlawful and intolerable treatment...Plaintiff had no other choice but to resign his employment with Defendant," the complaint states.
Lockey claims he suffered damages and losses due to the defendant's conduct.
Lockey is seeking compensatory damages. He is represented by Erika Kolenich of Klie Law Offices in Buckhannon.
Barbour Circuit Court case number: 22-C-10