Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) board members will hold a special meeting tonight (Tuesday) at 6pm to vote on expanding an investigation into gender discrimination claims against Superintendent Paul Soma.

Board members earlier this month voted to hire outside firm Rehmann to investigate claims by the Traverse City Administrators Association (TCAA) - the union representing district principals and vice principals - that Soma engaged in bullying behavior against female employees. Those allegations could constitute a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal law prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees based on gender, among other factors. TCAPS is legally required to investigate such allegations. Board members voted to spend an estimated $7,165 to $8,265 for Rehmann's services.

According to a memo from Rehmann to board President Erik Falconer, the firm began its investigation last week and has "already spent considerable time reviewing documents, personnel files, and conducting interviews." But according to the firm, after the investigation was initiated, TCAA submitted the names of 36 individuals the union believes have information relevant to the investigation. Subjects already interviewed also indicated they "have a large amount of information they wish to share...receipt and proper collation of this information is time consuming."

The firm added that while it continues to focus solely on investigating gender discrimination claims - numerous other complaints had been made by the TCAA against Soma in areas that did not include gender discrimination - the scope of the investigation would need to expand to adequately address those complaints. Board members tonight will consider approving a change order to the contract that will increase Rehmann's estimated payout by another $10,765 to $13,555. If approved, the increase would bring the total investigation cost to between $17,930 and $21,820.