Media Advisory - DWC Challenge to Steiner-Black Waiver To Be Heard By Albany Judge on Thu, 12/23

DENY WAIVER COALITION MEDIA ADVISORY To:  info@denywaiver.com                      Deny Waiver Coalition       . December 22, 2010 Challenge to Steiner-Black Waiver To Be Heard By Albany Judge Parents traveling from New York City on Thursday to witness proceedings What: Attorneys Norman Siegel and Herbert Teitelbaum will appear before Judge Gerald Connolly in the Albany County Supreme Court on behalf of 13 parent Petitioners and one teacher to challenge New York State Education Commissioner David Steiner's granting of a waiver to Cathleen Black so she may assume the office of Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education.  Siegel and Teitelbaum will be joined by two other lawyers representing additional New York City public school parents who are also challenging the Steiner waiver. The Petitioners, including New York State Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn / District 57) and members of the Deny Waiver Coalition, have contended that Ms. Black does not have the qualifications necessary under New York State law to oversee the educational system that serves their children and, furthermore, that Commissioner Steiner misinterpreted State law and exceeded his authority in granting the waiver to Ms. Black. Three separate Article 78 petitions challenging the waiver have been filed on behalf of a diverse group of public school parents as well as one teacher, and all three will be heard. When: Thursday, December 23rd, 2010,  9:30 AM   Where: Supreme Court - Albany County, 16 Eagle Street, Albany, NY Enter through back entrance on Lodge Street; front entrance closed due to construction. Park at Crowne Plaza Hotel parking lot on Lodge & State Streets. Contact: Norman Siegel (Attorney)           347-907-0867 Herbert Teitelbaum (Attorney)  518-441-9412 Mona Davids                                   917-340-8987 Noah E. Gotbaum                           917-658-3213 Lupé Todd (for Asm. Jeffries)      917-202-0116 Visit the Deny Waiver Coalition website:  http://www.denywaiver.com/

The DENY WAIVER COALITION ("DWC") is an association of public school parents and educators as well as concerned community leaders opposed to granting a waiver of employment qualifications to Ms. Cathleen Black, the proposed Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education.  The DWC also supports improvements to the Chancellor selection process.