Teachers Union Files Suit Against Closing Of Struggling NYC Schools
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- For the second straight year, the teachers union has filed a lawsuit to stop New York City's Department of Education from closing down 22 struggling schools.
"The Department of Education has not learned its lesson. We cannot continue with policies that allow inequality," Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said.
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The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Manhattan Supreme Court by the UFT, NAACP and other groups. It also includes a fight over 15 schools that were saved last year in a similar legal battle.
Mulgrew said the new suit claims the city broke its promises to give the failing schools the support needed to improve. It also targets several charter schools that share a building with public schools.
Critics argue the arrangement takes away space from public school students. Many of those charter schools are equipped with upgraded facilities and greater gym access.
"What are we teaching our children if they're entering a building everyday and one school has brand new facilities and the other school has no new facilities," Mulgrew said. "That's just wrong. It's just wrong."
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said the union was trying to keep students in failing schools.
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