UFT loses another battle in its unrelenting war against Success Academy
On the first day of school Monday, smiles, music and balloons reigned outside Success Academy in Rockaway Park after the charter network defeated the powerful United Federation of Teachers last week.
Once again, Success Academy prevailed against the obscene attempt by Michael Mulgrew and the UFT to use the courts to sabotage the education of predominantly minority charter school children.
The union’s legal campaign has sparked fears among parents that their children will not be able to attend school this fall.
On Friday, a Manhattan judge denied UFT’s motion to bar Success from starting classes Monday for hundreds of students at PS 225 in Far Rockaway and the K495 high school complex.
(Yes, on Monday: One way to increase children’s success is to start the school year weeks earlier than in regular public schools.)
Mulgrew & Co. shamelessly attempted to use the new class size law to thwart the city’s Department of Education-approved placement in the two underutilized (actually half-empty) buildings.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lyle Frank correctly dismissed the union’s frivolous claims. Enrollment in public schools has declined, and there is enough space in the two buildings for all students without exceeding the new caps (which won’t take effect for a few years anyway).
“It’s incomprehensible that a union representing educators is trying to block school doors and prevent hundreds of children from going to school,” said Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Success Academy, in calling out the UFT.
This follows at least 20 previous failed UFT bids to block or delay success colocations.
But that doesn’t stop the union from continuing the harassment.
Since the UFT plans to appeal, Success should apply to the Court of Appeals for the union to pay its court costs if the UFT loses again.
If they cared for the kids, Mulgrew & Co. would urge the DOE to adopt Success’s best practices that result in 80% of students (chosen by lottery!) having excellent reading skills and 75% having good math skills .
But the only party doing harm to students and families here is the teachers’ union, which wields its power for the most selfish Adult ends, always at the expense of the children.
