Classroom at Sappir College
Photo: Ben Kisselnik
Batya Katar
Photo: Ronen Boideck
Sderot parents threaten to boycott 2007 school year
Parents Association says work on school fortifications has almost stopped, despite High Court ruling in May requiring government to secure Gaza vicinity schools by time school reopens
Fortifications of Sderot schools are still incomplete and local parents are threatening to boycott the opening of the school year, just like they did in 2006.
"Fortifications won't be ready by September 1, and I'm wondering where they intend to send the students? The State must find alternative locations. Since these don't exist, we won't start the school year," Sderot Parents Association chairman Batya Katar told Ynet Thursday.
Students vulnerable
Shmulik Hadad
(VIDEO) Qassam rocket directly hits unfortified classroom in Negev high school, lightly wounding two people and injuring several others. Students at school ordered to remain in fortified classrooms. Another five Qassams land in Sderot, Negev
In 2006, the school year started with a two-week delay and parents agreed to send their children to school based on the promise of future fortifications.
Qassam fire on Sderot has still not halted entirely. Thursday afternoon, one rocket landed between two homes in the city, damaging them.
Almost at the exact same time, lawyer Keren Raz-Morag submitted a petition on behalf of the Sderot Parents Association calling on the High Court to enforce its own ruling from May 2007, which instructed the State to fortify all schools in Sderot and Gaza vicinity communities.
Following the ruling, the State complained that they would not be able to fortify the schools by the required time, said Batya Katar, but although the High Court did not grant a postponement, work on fortifications in the area has almost completely stopped.
"The practical meaning of the government's failure is that the school year in Sderot is meant to begin with unfortified classrooms, in opposition to the High Court's ruling. Therefore, we will boycott the beginning of the school year until fortifications are done," said representatives of the Parents Association.
According to Katar, many parents have requested to transfer their children to other schools, but were "faced with obstacles from the Sderot municipality.
"It's created a situation where the State will not care for students but prevents their parents from caring for them, also," she said.
"The State is placing students under a double risk," said Raz-Morag. "Not only do they face the risk inherent in studying in unfortified schools, but they will also face the risk of studying near construction sites, which these schools will become, due to the delay in the State's implementation of the High Court's ruling.
"Since no sanctions are being levied against the responsible parties, the State views the High Court ruling as no more than a recommendation," she added.
The lawyer also appealed to State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss. "Following his report criticizing the preparedness of the home front, it is appropriate to address the implementation of court decisions regarding the issue, especially since it involves the safety of students," Raz-Morag said.
A widespread problem
The problem extends beyond Sderot. According to Alon Schuster, head of the Sha'ar Hanegev regional council, communities in his jurisdiction most likely won't start school on time, either.
"The government is showing Negev students, once again, that they are helpless and bad at making decisions. We demand an immediate budget to transfer students to an alternate academic location, as was agreed upon," he said.
The Sha'ar Hanegev regional council had negotiated a settlement in advance, allowing students to study at Kibbutz Ruhama – which is out of Qassam range – in the event that schools are not fortified by the time classes resume.
Despite the agreement, the council does not have the requisite budget to carry out such a plan. "As such, it is doubtful that Sha'ar Hanegev students will begin the upcoming school year on time," council representatives said.
"We expect the state of Israel to make sure that the school year in Sha'ar Hanegav opens on time, like the rest of the country," said Ziv Mazliach, a representative of the Sha'ar Hanegev Parents Forum.
The forum is preparing several activities to protest the government's treatment of Gaza vicinity students, including a large-scale rally by regional parents and students.
