I was privileged to attend the dedication of a plaque commemorating the 60th anniversary of the voluntary integration of the Teaneck Public Schools in 1964. The program hosted several Black leaders and one former Jewish activist who, with her late husband, helped to propel the integration. What a model for communal harmony: the Jewish community merged with the Black community under the leadership of a successful superintendent. Unfortunately, the school district did not reach out to the private sector of Teaneck to notify all segments of our community of this milestone, honoring a historic event and the unity in the overall Teaneck community.
The bifurcation of the Teaneck community reinforces the tension within our neighborhoods and is counterproductive to its growth and our school district. Having been on the Board of Education for the past 10 months, I have witnessed how the tension that permeates Board of Education meetings limits the discussion of educational improvements and innovations. We must celebrate all Teaneck students and dedicate our efforts towards new initiatives to ensure the educational growth of our students.
How unfortunate!
