Special Ed PTA Claims Discrimination

The Cherry Hill Special Education PTA (CHSEPTA) has formally accused the school district of discrimination. This comes after a long-standing tradition of CHSEPTA having an informational resource table at back-to-school nights was ended this year. CHSEPTA President Jennifer Naddeo expressed feeling discriminated against, noting that for over ten years, the PTA was permitted its own table at each school's event.

The district, serving nearly 11,000 students across 18 schools, cited a new "consistent process" for table arrangements. District spokeswoman Nina Baratti stated that CHSEPTA members were not barred from attending events but that table arrangements should now be managed through the Zone PTA. This umbrella organization comprises leaders from the district's individual PTAs.

CHSEPTA officials had inquired about the events in early August. They were then directed to go through Zone PTA, despite being an independent 501(c)(3) organization. Superintendent Kwame R. Morton acknowledged an initial misunderstanding of CHSEPTA's structure but maintained the district's decision. CHSEPTA filed a grievance with the school board on September 2nd regarding the matter.