Last week, a longtime Hillsborough County School district employee retired. The Sentinel has learned that Henry Ballard, Jr., has since retained Attorney Delano Stewart to represent him in preparation of filing a grievance.

He was appointed as he first Manager of the Office of Supplier Diversity, created to increase minority participation in the awarding of school contracts, in 2001.

Ballard said, “After reviewing a lot of documents given to me by inside sources, it appeared that there was an incredible difference as to why my position could not be reviewed prior to my retirement.”

He also stated that he was informed that there were a series of meetings about his position that did not include him. He learned the proper procedure to file a grievance weeks before his retirement and “I took those actions.”

The grievance concerns his title change and pay increase.