School district sued over magnet program

Wednesday, June 10, 1998 | 11:12 a.m.

DISCRIMINATION SUIT -- A Las Vegas man, whose son failed to gain entrance to the Clark County School District magnet program, has filed a class-action suit against the district, claiming that the process is discriminatory.

David Pancoast filed the suit Tuesday in federal court, claiming that of the 147 rejected applications to the federally funded program designed to achieve racial balance, all were boys.

The suit seeks monetary damages and elimination of quotas based on race or gender for admission to the magnet programs.

Pancoast's son, Benjamin Pancoast, 11, scored below the passing score required to get into the program, as did 106 other boys. However, 40 sixth-grade boys who passed the exam for the math and science magnet program at Hyde Park Middle School were rejected based on their gender, Pancoast alleges.

School District officials say their legal counsel has reviewed the magnet program selection process and believes it is appropriate.

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