The current Board of Directors (“Board”), has demonstrated an inability to respond to the needs of the School community. They have repeatedly failed to keep the community informed of significant changes being discussed that would fundamentally alter the character and mission of the school. They appear completely disconnected from their base (the parents, the students, and the staff). They have failed to seek assistance from that base and in doing so, have overlooked alternatives that would better serve the needs of the stakeholders of the school.

We do not deny the substantial time commitment of many Board members to fulfill their mandate. We also understand that the current by-laws give them the power of taking certain executive decisions. However, as a group of Bialik teachers have nicely put it, we feel that JPPS-Bialik cannot thrive “without a strong community driven consensus.” JPPS-Bialik needs ambassadors that truly believe in the school and will vigorously promote its excellence to the outside world, while being committed to continuous improvement and progress in full respect of the school’s traditions which have underlined its enormous successes over the years.

It is our feeling that the recent decision by the Administration, acting on the advice of the board to terminate the positions of an enormous contingent of valued teachers, staff, and administrators without prior consultation with members and stakeholders, but rather introduced as a fait accompli represents an act of derision of the board to the stakeholders of the school. We believe that this decision will have severely negative repercussions to the quality of education provided at JPPS/Bialik, and will adversely affect enrolment numbers in the immediate future, and in the years ahead. We believe that a decision to increase student teacher ratios to levels that approach those of public schools is a major change that should have been discussed at a SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of the membership, rather than being decided unilaterally by decree. We do not understand this decision, and have not received the required information to assess the merits of this decision and the claimed lack of alternatives.

Changes are required at the Board level. Our experience over the last few years, leads us to believe that those changes will not occur without a drastic change in the Board composition. Action must be taken to ensure full transparency and accountability of all members of the Board as well as a commitment of its members to return to its base to build a sense of community and to re-instill a sense of confidence in the school’s prospects as a leading Jewish day school for the current cohort of students and for future generations of students.

JPPS Bialik Association has a wealth of depth in its membership. A solid contingent of members has the necessary expertise that can be brought forth to serve with distinction on the new Board. It has been a problem in the recent past for parents to get involved despite their willingness and capabilities to serve on the board or its committees. The new Board must be more inclusive. Furthermore, changes in the by-laws are required to reinstate teachers’ representation on the Board.

In order to make the required changes in the Officer contingent, according to our by-laws, at least 75 members must sign the proposed petition to request that a Special General Meeting be held as soon as possible, for the purpose of removal and replacement of the Officers of the Board of Directors of JPPS-Bialik (i.e. the Co-Presidents, the Secretary, and the Treasurer), as provided for in Section 5.7 of the JEWISH PEOPLE’S SCHOOLS & PERETZ SCHOOLS INC. BY-LAWS (approved on May 27, 2010 by the Board of Directors and ratified at a SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of the Association held on June 14, 2010).

Please note that in signing this petition, you are merely requesting that a Special meeting be held for the consideration of the Removal and Replacement of the Officers of the Board. In signing this petition, you express your dissatisfaction towards the current Board Officers and desire to hear alternatives.

As per the Bylaws (5.7.1b):
(b) the special resolution shall be brought to a SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING and such special resolution must be approved of by no less than fifty (50) MEMBERS representing at least two thirds (2/3) of those MEMBERS present and attending such SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING.“

Please also note that as per article 1.14 of the Bylaws:
“MEMBER” means any person of majority age who:
(a) is a PARENT; or
(b) is an ALUMNUS; or
(c) contributes at least ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) per annum to the ASSOCIATION and applies to the ASSOCIATION and is accepted for membership by the BOARD; or
(d) contributes in a non-financial manner to the ASSOCIATION, but is not a salaried employee of the ASSOCIATION, and applies to the ASSOCIATION and is accepted for membership by the BOARD)

With the necessary signatories (75 members) a call for the SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING, will be made. At the SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING, a transparent discussion of the issues that require immediate attention should take place. You can be assured that as the process moves forward, a highly qualified replacement slate of OFFICERS will be introduced to the membership for consideration.