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April 8, 2019

ACLU suit expected this week

By Mon Valley Independent

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

The American Civil Liberties Union confirmed Monday that it is moving forward with a lawsuit against the Mc-Keesport Area School District.

ACLU Pennsylvania Legal Director Vic Walczak expects the paperwork to be filed in federal court by Wednesday. 

Walczak’s announcement comes after the ACLU sent a letter to the district March 19 warning that legal action would be taken if a black student union wasn’t formed at the high school by April 5.

At the direction of Superintendent Dr. Mark Holtzman, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tia Wanzo and high school administrators hand picked a group of 15 student leaders after receiving the ACLU’s letter. Those students were charged with acting as “representatives of the student body,” and were instructed to “constructively discuss” if they would like to form a black student union or something similar, according to Holtzman.

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Tuesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.

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