FORT WORTH undefined Dozens of African-American parents stormed the Fort Worth school district offices Tuesday claiming that their children were not paid for janitorial work they performed at schools under a contract with a local minister.

Kyev Tatum, minister at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, said the school district has violated its contract with him to provide a program encouraging inner-city youth to become productive citizens. He said that under an agreement with the school district, about 100 youngsters mopped floors, wiped windows and performed other custodial duties over a 15-day period.

“We refuse to embrace the history of this district of treating people of color this way,” Tatum said after a meeting of more than 70 parents at district offices on University Drive.

“We are being demonized for creating something that is helping our kids get better,” Tatum said.

School district officials said Tatum was told not to implement the program after a May 26 meeting with several district officials, including former Superintendent Walter Dansby, who resigned June 2. On May 27, the district sent Tatum an email explaining that the district could not support the program, district officials said.

More at source: The Star Telegram

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