Education officials continue to block ACLU suit over transparency in $100M Facebook donation to Newark schools

Jessica Calefati/The Star-Ledger

NEWARK — Education officials from Newark and the state continue to block a suit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union that could reveal new details about the genesis of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million gift to Newark’s schools.

The City of Newark recently asked the court to dismiss an open records lawsuit filed by the ACLU in August that seeks e-mails and other correspondence about the donation.

This request came days after the ACLU learned Newark Mayor Cory Booker and acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf have discussed the gift using their personal email accounts.

“The bottom line us that folks on the ground in Newark want basic information about the terms of the gift, such as whether it included any preconditions,” said Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the American Civil Liberties of New Jersey.

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