As a model program district, the school (Hola) will serve as a resource for other school districts in the northern region and neighboring areas and will enable educators to witness firsthand exemplary practices in world languages instruction and assessment. It will also enable administrators and teachers to dialog about issues of mutual concern, the discuss the potential for future collaboration regarding curriculum development projects, or professional development initiatives. -NJ Dept. of Education
Having lost twice previously before the State of New Jersey's Department of Education (also, click here), the Hoboken Board of
Education filed an emergency motion with the Appellate Court to stay (the act of temporarily stopping a judicial proceeding through the order of a court) the 7th and 8th grade expansion while the issue is litigated in
court. On Wednesday June 17, the court denied that request for a stay.
In order to obtain a stay, a plaintiff (the Hoboken Board of Education in this situation, the party that initiates a lawsuit)
must show that it is likely to win on the merits when the broader case
is litigated before the Appellate Court, and must also show that more
harm will come to it (the Hoboken Board of Education) than the defendant (Hola) if there is no stay. The decision on Wednesday suggests that the Appellate Court found the Hoboken Board
of Education's arguments unpersuasive toward the merits and the harm.
It is unclear at this point whether or if the Hoboken Board of Education will end its
litigation at this juncture. Should they continue with their litigation, the next step would be a full hearing before the Appellate Court. This process could take a number of months, come at some cost, and will likely assure continued unease within certain segments of the community. That being said, the continuation of litigation is certainly within the legal rights and options of the plaintiffs.
Related Link: Former Hoboken Board member Sullivan blogs on her thoughts about the lawsuit on Forbes.com.
