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Suit Charges Jewish Majority On School Board With Establishment Clause Violations

By Howard M. Friedman

In Long Island, New York, attorneys for public school children have filed a federal lawsuit against the Lawrence School District claiming that the Orthodox Jewish majority on the board have implemented policies that violate the Establishment Clause. 5Towns Jewish Times yesterday reported that a major issue of contention is the decision by the board to close school Number 6 in Woodmere, the newest school in the district. Woodmere is also seen as being in the best physical condition and is the only handicapped accessible elementary school. Six of the seven Orthodox Jews on the board send their own children to Jewish religious schools. It is rumored that the closed school will be sold or leased to a yeshiva, or that proceeds from sale of the school will be used to pay for tax reductions for parents who send their children to non-public schools. However the school district says there are currently no plans for disposition of the school. The court denied a temporary restraining order that would have kept the school open, saying plaintiffs had little likelihood of success on the merits. [Thanks to Joel Katz (Relig. & State in Israel) for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on August 06, 2009 (boomark / email).