Judge Rules For Bronx Mom In Teacher Tenure Suit

SI Judge Denies Teachers Union’s Motion To Dismiss Davids v. New York 

(Bronx, NY) Opponents of New York State’s teacher tenure laws won a small but important victory when a Staten Island judge allowed Davids v. New York, a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of those rules to move forward. The decision comes as battles over the way teachers are hired, fired and evaluated swirl through courtrooms and statehouses across the country.

The decision was hailed by the plaintiffs led by Parkchester resident and parent-activist, Mona Davids and by TV journalist-turned education activist Campbell Brown, who supports the legal challenge. NYS United Teachers said the ruling was disappointing, but not unexpected, and plans to appeal.

Ms. Davids said, “We are happy that our voices will finally be heard.  The teachers union’s argument that parents have no standing and no right to demand accountability, expect our children to be educated and in a safe environment, was outrageous.  We are the real stakeholders because it is our children in the New York State public school system and this trial allows us to bring our own chairs to the education policy table.”

The New York City Parents Union brought the lawsuit to prove that generations of City children have been the unintentional victims of bad laws that protect bad teachers.

“This is a lawsuit about the effects of bad rules and not a lawsuit against teachers. Most of the public school teachers are excellent and dedicated professionals, and many support this lawsuit because they understand the problems with the existing rules,” said Sam Pirozzolo, the group’s vice president.

Jonathan Tribiano, Esq., General Counsel for Davids v. New York plaintiffs said, “We believe Justice Minardo’s decision today is sound. We also believe the issues in this case are ripe for determination.”

Davids v. New York seeks to declare as unconstitutional certain provisions in New York State’s Education Law that deny students the “sound basic education,” that past court decisions have declared a fundamental right under Article XI, Section 1 of the New York State Constitution.