Five school principals in Newark, N.J., who were suspended in January for speaking out against a planned restructuring of the school system have sued in federal court, alleging that their First Amendment right to free speech was violated.

Four of the five were suspended after speaking at a community meeting in opposition to Superintendent Cami Anderson’s One Newark reorganization plan. The fifth was suspended after refusing to comply with the district’s move to ban the head of her school’s parent-teacher organization from coming onto school property after the parent posted fliers critical of the reorganization.

Following an outcry around the nation over the suspensions, the principals were reinstated, although two were reassigned to different posts. But they, along with the parent leader, sued on civil liberties grounds.

The One Newark plan is coming under increasing fire. It would close or consolidate a dozen schools, expand the number of charter schools — in a district that already has 20 percent of students in charter schools — and essentially replace the neighborhood-school system with universal enrollment.

AFT President Randi Weingarten made her second visit to the city in recent weeks, joining protesters at a meeting on Jan. 28.

“The nation is watching Newark,” Weingarten said. “The AFT will be here with you to fight for the community until the community gets its schools back.”

NJ Spotlight, Jan. 29
Star-Ledger, Jan. 20, 27