RICHMOND – Former Richmond School District Superintendent Mike Aytes said his employment discrimination suit is advancing slowly, as expected. Circuit Judge Kevin Walden set a July 18 trial date. “This is really just a first step,” Aytes said by phone from his Arkansas residence. “This is not on a fast track.” Trial dates might be reset before both sides face off in court, if they face off at all. Either side could try an alternative, such as a settlement. Aytes filed suit in March to seek actual and punitive damage awards from his former employer, the Richmond Board of Education. The board placed Aytes on leave Nov. 15, 2019, and fired him March 6, 2020. When placed on leave, Aytes had about 18 months left on his contract. The contract called for the board to pay him more than $130,000 annually. The board hired an interim superintendent, James Finley, to finish out the 2019-2020 school year and then signed a contract with Superintendent Greg Darling, whose tenure started with the…