Following intervention by Betzedek, the Education Ministry
required the City of Beit Shemesh to renew the busing program
from chareidi special-education students attending schools in
Jerusalem.
Shortly before the school year began, the Education
Ministry's Executive Committee determined that a group of
students from Beit Shemesh had to be enrolled in special
education classes unavailable in Beit Shemesh. The cost of
busing and tuition was supposed to be covered by the city
where they live, using Education Ministry funds.
To save money, the Beit Shemesh Municipality tried to
persuade principals at the city's chareidi schools to open
special-ed classes. After the Municipality's efforts failed,
the school year opened without a suitable study framework for
those students, who were left with no alternative other than
to stay at home. When parents contacted the Municipality, the
Education Ministry and other public figures they were told
that the Municipality was engaged in efforts to open suitable
classes.
After two months of frustration the parents turned to
Betzedek Chairman Atty. Rabbi Mordechai Green, who pursued
various legal channels before filing a High Court petition.
He filed a preliminary High Court petition against the
Education Ministry Director and a preliminary district court
petition in the event it was decided to file an
administrative petition instead of a High Court petition.
Meanwhile he sent a letter giving the Municipality and the
Education Ministry three days to solve the problem.
In response the Municipality and Education Ministry officials
proceeded describe various channels they were pursuing to no
avail. When the deadline passed Betzedek prepared a detailed
High Court petition and the parents signed declarations and
other forms.
Just before the petition was filed, the Education Ministry
Director instructed his staff to give the problem top
priority. The Director of the department for recognized but
unofficial education began to work on arrangements for busing
and tuition costs herself, asking Betzedek not to file the
petition in the meantime.
The legal pressure proved effective and within days the
students were sitting in special-ed classes in Jerusalem busy
at their studies.
