Park Slope Principal Investigated For “Communist Activities”

The principal of Park Slope Collegiate filed a lawsuit against the NYC Department of Education last Friday requesting a stop to an investigation that accuses her of “engaging in communist activities” and “recruiting students,” WNYC reports.

Jill Bloomberg, an outspoken racial justice advocate, claims that the DOE is conducting the investigation against her in response to some negative comments she recently made about the agency.

The city denies this claim, stating it first received an anonymous complaint against Bloomberg in May 2016, alleging she was “actively recruiting students to participate in a political party,” or the Progressive Labor Party, which Bloomberg denies having any involvement with.

In her case, Bloomberg argues that the city launched the investigation shortly after she complained that the DOE discriminates when allotting resources to the John Jay Educational campus’ sports teams (Park Slope Collegiate is one of four schools on the campus located at 237 7th Avenue). Bloomberg pointed out that more resources were given to teams at Millennium High School Brooklyn, which has a larger percentage of white students, than to the sports teams consisting of more black and Latino students.

At the initial hearing on Monday, May 1, Bloomberg’s attorney said the “vague allegations” in the investigation are “dangerous,” while Bloomberg, faculty, and supporters say the investigation is “creating a chilling effect at the school on speech related to social justice.”

Approximately a hundred teachers, students, and parents attended yesterday’s hearing in support of the principal, WNYC says.

Judge Paul Gardarphe will decide on Wednesday, May 3, whether the city’s investigation against Bloomberg will proceed.