Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Religion & Law Blogs -> Religion Clause

Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

School Guidance Director Sues, Claiming Animus From Orthodox Jewish Board Members

By Howard M. Friedman

In Lawrence, New York, the school district's guidance director who was denied tenure filed a lawsuit charging that his dismissal stems from the ongoing tension between Orthodox Jews who took control of the Lawrence school board in 2006 and the community's non-Orthodox residents. (See prior posting.) According to Sunday's Newsday, Jay Silverstein (a Duke-educated psychologist) says he was advised by his superintendent that he would be more likely to get tenure if he became friendlier with board members and with a fellow administrator who was said to be Orthodox and influential. Silverstein, who plans to run for the school board in May, is Jewish, but non-practicing. Co-workers praise Silverstein's job performance, but school board president Murray Forman called Silverstein's action "another frivolous lawsuit." [Thanks to Joel Katz (Relig. & State In Israel) for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 08, 2010 (boomark / email).