Pearland couple: Charter school racially discriminated against daughter

HOUSTON - A public charter school is accused of racially discriminating against a Pearland couple's daughter, recent court documents say. 

Donna and Darrel Davis are suing Harmony Science Academy and a few of its employees in Houston federal court in response to alleged mistreatment their daughter experienced as a student there.

The suit, filed Dec. 10, asserts physical education teacher T. Brans, librarian X. Brans, principal Bulent Coban, assistant principal Deborah Smith and teacher Stephanie Subirats each committed or helped toward covering up wrongful acts.

The Davises claim the staffers denied the young girl permission to go to the restroom twice, which led to the girl urinating on herself in one instance.

"These incidents... and certainly yielded devastation to the fragility of an 8 year old entrusted to professionals of a learning institution that self-publicizes distinguished academic and professional credentials," the original petition says.

The suit alleges an incident in which defendant T. Brans purportedly ordered her to the back of a line during gym class "because she was black and that black people should be in the back of the line."

According to the plaintiffs, the girl unsuccessfully sought another teacher's help, but was instead bribed to keep quiet.

They state their daughter felt "extreme" moods of sadness and withdrawal and took a while telling them about what she reportedly went through at the school.

She has since transferred somewhere else.

The complainants consequently seek unspecified monetary damages.

They are represented by attorney Joseph K. Plumbar of Humble.

Case No. 4:12-CV-3591