California millionaire David Welch’s advocacy group, Student Matters, will fund and coordinate the lawsuit by the New York City Parents Union that seeks to invalidate due process and seniority rights for teachers. Welch’s group financed the Vergara v. California lawsuit, in which a state judge ruled that tenure and seniority rights violated students’ civil rights. That case is expected to be appealed.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued the following statement in response:

New York City is used to meddling billionaires out to destroy public education. We had 12 years of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The addition of another out-of-touch billionaire with an educational axe to grind won’t change the fact that — as New York parents realize — due process helps teachers defend their students’ interests.