09/02/2026
NOTICE OF FORMAL GRIEVANCE: Administrative Exclusion of CHSEPTA, Disparate Access
9/2/2026
Dear President Winters, Vice President Greenbaum, and Members of the Cherry Hill Board of Education,
Please accept this letter as a formal grievance regarding an operational directive recently issued by Superintendent Kwame Morton. We are escalating this matter directly to the Board of Education because we have entirely exhausted all administrative remedies. Despite our attempts to reach a resolution, the Superintendent has issued a final denial. We have no remaining recourse within the district's operational chain of command.
This grievance concerns the total administrative exclusion of the Cherry Hill Special Education PTA (CHSEPTA) from having an independent informational table at building-level Back-to-School Nights. The administration has decreed that only traditional, building-specific PTAs and the Zone PTA may hold independent table footprints. CHSEPTA (the only other parent organization in the district) which is dedicated explicitly to supporting families of students with disabilities - has been ordered to distribute its materials strictly as a subgroup under a general education table footprint.
Furthermore, the administration has stated that the Zone PTA must decide whether or not CHSEPTA can utilize their table space. This directive places a volunteer parent organization in an unfair position. By shifting the choice to carry out a discriminatory administrative rule onto another parent group, the Superintendent is forcing the Zone PTA to act as the gatekeeper of access for special education families. This administrative delegation does not absolve the district of liability; rather, it inappropriately weaponizes one parent group against another.
Most alarming, however, is the Superintendent's direct acknowledgment of CHSEPTA's structural independence, followed immediately by an explicit refusal to grant equal access. In a formal email response, Dr. Morton stated:
"Thank you for your email and for clarifying CHSEPTA's organizational relationship with Zone PTA. I appreciate the clarification, as I was under the impression that CHSEPTA functioned as a subgroup of Zone PTA. After consideration, the district's decision regarding Back to School Night participation will remain unchanged."
This admission strips away any defense of administrative oversight or logistical ignorance. Dr. Morton explicitly acknowledges that his original directive was based on a false premise—the incorrect belief that CHSEPTA was merely a subgroup of the Zone PTA. Yet, upon being presented with definitive advisement that CHSEPTA is a standalone, state-chartered paid member and local unit of NJPTA, he consciously chose to maintain the exclusion by only allowing the two out of the three types of pta to have equal access.
This demonstrates a deliberate disregard for structural reality and equity and does not align with the fourth district goal Climate & Family Engagement. The district had made progress but this action detracts from where the The district looked to strengthen community engagement and advanced a positive district climate through a series of high-impact, community-facing experiences.
Doubling down on a discriminatory barrier after admitting the stated basis for that barrier was completely wrong elevates this directive from an administrative error to an intentional act of discrimination. Dr. Morton's defense of "consistency across all schools" is inherently flawed; treating structurally different, independently chartered organizations as if they are subsidiaries creates a severely unequal and exclusionary outcome for special education families.
While we understand that the Board of Education does not micro-manage daily operational rules or directly force a revision of administrative decrees, the Board possesses clear oversight authority to advise the Superintendent when an administrative rule results in systemically discriminatory outcomes, and goes against the district’s goals.
We urge the Board to review this directive based on the following objective points:
Deliberate Exclusion Despite Structural Parity: Continuing to enforce an exclusionary rule after formally acknowledging that CHSEPTA is a fully independent, standalone local unit proves that the administration is knowingly denying equal access to special education families.
Creation of a Segregated Environment: Forcing special education parents to search for peer-support networks at a general education table, while traditional families enjoy direct, independent representation, establishes a systemically inequitable environment.
Denial of Equal Access: By opening Back-to-School Nights to parent-teacher organizations, the district creates a limited forum for family engagement. Granting full, independent placement to the general education units while denying the same to a special education unit constitutes an arbitrary and discriminatory barrier to a district benefit.
Structural Disparity: CHSEPTA is a standalone, legally distinct, and independently state-chartered local unit. We are not a subgroup or a subsidiary of any other organization. Forcing our organization to filter our presence through a third-party table treats our state-chartered unit with clear structural disparity.
By prioritizing one parent organization over another and excluding another based on its association with a legally protected class—and enforcing that exclusion after explicitly recognizing the group's independent status—this administration moves past a standard logistical dispute and enters the territory of discriminatory practice.
This exposure puts the district at risk for an independent civil rights investigation regarding unequal access to parent engagement.
As the body responsible for ensuring equity, dignity, and legal compliance across Cherry Hill Public Schools, we ask the Board leadership to immediately review this matter, and formally advise the Superintendent that this current decree risks significant liability of discrimination to the district, and goes against the district’s goals and values. The district must provide independent parity for CHSEPTA at all family engagement events as it is offering to school based and zone pta organizations, to do otherwise would simply be discriminatory.
Thank you for your leadership, your objectivity, and your swift attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Cherry Hill Special Education PTA (CHSEPTA)
cc: NJPTA
Dr. Kwame Morton, Superintendent
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Morton, Kwame
Date: Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: Meeting dates with Dr. Morton
To: CHSEPTA , Viglietta, Kristen
CC: Jim Neary , Corinne Driscoll , Cherry Hill Zone PTA , Mallory, Caitlin , Laurie Neary , Chris Naddeo , crystal lucas , [email protected] , Jennifer Naddeo
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email and for clarifying CHSEPTA's organizational relationship with Zone PTA. I appreciate the clarification, as I was under the impression that CHSEPTA functioned as a subgroup of Zone PTA. After consideration, the district's decision regarding Back to School Night participation will remain unchanged. To ensure consistency across all schools and PTA organizations, the only PTA organizations that will be permitted to attend Back to School Nights will be the host school's PTA and Zone PTA. CHSEPTA may continue to coordinate with Zone PTA regarding representation at the Zone PTA table, as previously communicated. As you know, the has worked diligently to support families of students with disabilities by providing multiple avenues for engagement and feedback. This includes maintaining a strong partnership with SEPAG and continuing to connect families with special education resources, information, and support. We will continue those efforts moving forward. Thank you for your understanding and for your continued advocacy on behalf of students and families!
Dr. Kwame R. Morton, Sr.
Superintendent
Cherry Hill Public Schools
45 Ranoldo Terrace
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
(856) 429-5600
[email protected]
District Goals
From: CHSEPTA
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 8:14 PM
To: Viglietta, Kristen ; Morton, Kwame
Cc: Jim Neary ; Corinne Driscoll ; Cherry Hill Zone PTA ; Mallory, Caitlin ; Laurie Neary ; Chris Naddeo ; crystal lucas ; [email protected] ; Jennifer Naddeo
Subject: Meeting dates with Dr. Morton
CAUTION: [EXTERNAL EMAIL]
Hello, Dr. Morton and Ms. Viglietta:
Thank you for your prompt response and clarification to our requests. While we understand the new decision’s rationale for ensuring fairness and consistency across all PTAs in the district, we would like to express some concerns.
CHSEPTA has participated in Back to School Nights for 12 years by maintaining a dedicated table at schools. This presence provides special education families with an opportunity to learn about our organization, engage in discussions about district programs, gain insights into CHSEPTA programs and events, and connect with other families facing similar experiences. For many families, Back to School Night serves as their initial introduction to CHSEPTA and fellow families who have children in special education.
Preserving these relationships is of utmost importance. CHSEPTA offers a designated space for special education families to connect, access resources, participate in inclusive activities and programs, and foster a sense of belonging within the broader school community. Our presence also reinforces the availability of a districtwide PTA specifically designed to support and engage these families. When we have shared a table in the past, the PTA members have stated they had no room for our materials and moved us to a separate table.
Furthermore, we would like to clarify CHSEPTA’s relationship with Zone. While we have consistently collaborated with Zone and value this partnership, Zone has not historically overseen CHSEPTA’s activities or events, just as Zone does not oversee or approve the activities and events of the other individual PTAs in the district. Like all other Cherry Hill PTAs, CHSEPTA operates independently as its own PTA with its own 501c3 and membership under the governance of NJPTA that is serving families throughout Cherry Hill’s in and out of district placements and community.
We understand the decision to have questions for Dr. Morton follow the same process as the other PTAs, despite our disappointment in losing the opportunity for a separate meeting to discuss sensitive information from families. Our primary concern is ensuring that these changes do not inadvertently hinder CHSEPTA’s ability to independently connect with and serve special education families with a seat at the table.
We hope the district will reconsider allowing CHSEPTA to continue having its own table at Back to School Nights, as we have done for many years. We believe maintaining that visibility and direct connection with families benefits CHSEPTA, our special education families, and ultimately the district as a whole.
Thank you again for your response to our requests, and we look forward to continuing to work together this year.
CHSEPTA
[email protected]
https://sites.google.com/view/chsepta
Contact Us
https://forms.gle/9vxSKGJEUsv7niYQ8
Membership Form
https://forms.gle/FzNKbgJKcP7CHecM7
On Wed, Aug 19, 2026 at 10:43 AM Viglietta, Kristen wrote:
Hi!
On behalf of Dr. Morton, thanks for your patience with the reply.
Beginning with the 26/26 school year, Dr. Morton will be filtering CHSEPTA questions through the Zone PTA question process, rather than holding a separate meeting with CHSEPTA. Please directly any/all monthly questions through Zone's process. This is in line with what happens with each of the other PTAs throughout the district.
Additionally, we have extended the offer for Zone PTA to have a table at each of the Back to School Nights, and if Zone so chooses, CHSEPTA can have representation at that table.
Thanks so much, and Happy 2026/2027!
Warmly,
Kristen
Kristen Viglietta
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
Cherry Hill Public Schools
45 Ranoldo Terrace | Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 | 856.429.5600 ext. 4309 | [email protected]
From: CHSEPTA
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 12:18 PM
To: Viglietta, Kristen ; Jim Neary ; Corinne Driscoll
Subject: Re: Meeting dates with Dr. Morton
CAUTION: [EXTERNAL EMAIL]
Hello: Just following up for dates with Dr. Morton and back to school night dates. Thanks,
CHSEPTA
[email protected]
https://sites.google.com/view/chsepta
Contact Us
https://forms.gle/9vxSKGJEUsv7niYQ8
Membership Form
https://forms.gle/FzNKbgJKcP7CHecM7
On Thu, Aug 6, 2026 at 4:28 PM CHSEPTA wrote:
Hello, Ms. Viglietta: do you have the dates that CHSEPTA will be meeting with Dr. Morton in the 2026-2027 school year? Also, do you have the back-to-school night dates yet? Thank you.
CHSEPTA
[email protected]
https://sites.google.com/view/chsepta
Contact Us
https://forms.gle/9vxSKGJEUsv7niYQ8
Membership Form
https://forms.gle/FzNKbgJKcP7CHecM7
CHSEPTA is the district wide PTA for all parents, teachers staff and community members. If your child has an IEP or a 504 Plan or if you support a child that does, then you should join CHSEPTA. Membership provides the following benefits: Support - Unite with a community dedicated to children with sp...
