签署公开信，我们需要500名家长签名….

Vito has devoted his retirement as a volunteer to serve the school communities of district 20. The parents of IS187 Christa McAuliffe Middle School elected Vito LaBella to the SLT in 2016.  Since then he has been elected to positions of increasing responsibility, including PTA President at Christa McAuliffe, President of the D20 President’s Council, Brooklyn Technical High School Executive Board and most recently, to Community Education Council of district 20 (CEC20).

Vito is a retired NYPD Police Lieutenant. As a lieutenant, part of his duties was ensuring that his command complied with all City, State and Federal regulations, including regulations regarding discrimination and retaliation. Vito has regularly spoken out against hate, intolerance, and bigotry whenever needed. He has promoted cultural awareness at his children’s middle school, and has authored and disseminated resolutions calling for people to stand up to bigotry.

Recently, a small group opposed to the objective standards and meritocracy that underscores many academic-screened programs have vindictively targeted Vito for his outspoken education values and advocacy. They have resorted to using Facebook to slander and impugn his reputation. His public posts call for a dispassionate examination of police procedure and solutions that include input from all stakeholders. Vito has always called for inclusiveness and condemns all forms of violence.

Vito is a staunch advocate for high quality, challenging education for every student in all NYC DOE Public Schools by increasing the academic rigor of all school curricula. Vito supports increasing Gifted and Talented (G&T) in every community; expanding honors classes (D20 Superintendent Program) in middle schools and creating additional Specialized High Schools. Vito believes that all students regardless of race, disabilities, English Language Learner status and socioeconomic level deserve the access and opportunity to achieve their fullest potential.

We, the undersigned, demand that the baseless attacks on Mr. LaBella cease immediately. We strongly support Mr. LaBella to continue to advocate and represent us in all of his duly-elected parent leadership positions.