Clergy Open Letter about CCJEF

October 23, 2016

For too many years, we have seen too many students in our communities struggle
in schools that are not meeting their learning needs, where they are not being
prepared to succeed after they graduate and -- in many cases -- where a culture of
low expectations persists. We know that change and a better education are not only
possible, but necessary for our children to be successful and for our communities
and the churches we lead to thrive. But achieving this goal--a great education for
every child--requires choices to be made.
On September 7, Connecticut Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher called
upon our state to improve our public school systems. These changes could change
the trajectory of our kids future. Now, the Supreme Court will consider an appeal
of the decision which could jeopardize or further delay action to fix longstanding
problems, like ensuring equitable school funding, equitable access to great teachers
and leaders, and meaningful high school diplomas that truly signify that a student is
ready for the challenges ahead in college or career.
We the undersigned members of our states faith-based community call upon
the General Assembly to seize this rare opportunity this coming session to fix
Connecticuts education problems and not wait for another courtroom decision. We
all recognize that the problems in our education system didnt happen overnight. This
is not about assigning blame. At the same time, we recognize that this court case has
taken over a decade to get to a decision and we know that our children cannot wait
another decade for someone else to decide they deserve great schools. We have an
opportunity and a responsibility to make right what is not right, to fix what all know to
be broken, and give back to our children the great education that they need so that
they can truly fulfill their God-given potential.
We encourage our state leaders - our Governor and legislators - to embrace the
spirit of this ruling and act with urgency to deliver on the promise of providing all of
our children with the high-quality education they deserve.
Judge Moukawsher in the conclusion to his ruling said that schools are for kids. We
agree. Our expectations are that you will be for the kids, too. We have an opportunity,
right now, to solve this problem. But the choice is ultimately yours. We urge you to do
what is right, what is fair and what is just.

Thank you,
Deacon Carlos Heber Argueta
Pastor Juan Aguayo
Pastor Curtis Antrum
Minister Shaneque Berry
Rev. David Blanchfield
Pastor Dann Bland
Lead Pastor Anthony L. Bennett
Elder Darryl Brooks
Elder Harold Brooks
Elder Theodore Brooks
Rev. David Blanchfield
Apostle Eugene Brunson
Pastor Evenis Champagne
Pastor Dr. Richard Wesely-Clarke
Rev. Dr. Richard Clarke
Pastor Lindsay Curtis
Pastor Steven Cousins
Mr. Kathy Coyne
Mrs. Jenny Dadoulis
Albert Dancy
Father Nicholas Dassouras
Pastor Roosevelt Ewell
Pastor Todd Foster
Mrs. Pat Floris
Rev. Henry Floyd
Pastor Deborah Fludd
Minister Juanita Furlow
Rev. Randall Furlow
Pastor Jackie Gilchrist
Rev. Carlton Giles
Deacon Eliu Gomez
Father John Gomez
Minister Aaron Guest
Rev. Moses L. Harvill
Rev. Orsella Hughes
Deacon Rosa Idrovo
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Ingraham
Minister Keith Jackson
Pastor Lenore Jordan
Artimes Kassimis
Pastor Rober Keene
Rev. Nicholas Lang
Minister Christopher Lewis
Minister Donna Marr
Pastor Carl McCluster
Pastor Sonya Merrill
Bishop R. L. Middelton
Kenneth Morales
Co-Pastor Sigmund Morriar
Pastor Donal Morris
Pastor Yenny Aguayo

Minister Anothony Alvarez

Pastor Eliseo Aponte
Pastor Angel Borrero
Pastor Manuel Caban
Pastor Benito Castellano
Pastor Miguel Castro
Pastor Corderos
Pastor Steven Cousins
Pastor Javier Diaz
Pastor Joel Diaz
Minsister Keshant Dixon
Pastor Carmen Echevarria
Pastor Ely Echevarria
Pastor Raul Feliciano
Minister Luis Fentes
Pastor Fernandez
Pastor Todd Foster
Pastor Victor Gomez
Pastor Santos Gonzalez
Pastor Soraida Guadalupe
Pastor Abraham Hernandez
Pastor Armando Hernandez
Rev. Orsella Hughes
Rev. Lamonika Johnson
Pastor Robert Keene
Deacon Florencia King
Minister Christopher Lewis
Pastor Brexieda Marquez
Pastor Ariel Martinez
Pastor Juan Martinez
Pastor Medina
Minister Alex Moncayo
Pastor Casimiro Morales
Pastor Sandra Morales
Evangelist Theresa Morant
Pastor Sigmund Morriar
Minister Tiffany Morriar
Pastor Don Morris
Pastor Eldren Morrison
Rev. Frank Newsom
Pastor Marta Negron
MInister Brittiany Niblack
Pastor Alberto Nieve
Pastor Walter Oliver
Pastor Carmen Ortiz
Mrs. Nancy OConnell
Pastor Walter Oliver
Pastor Hector Otero
Pastor Nelida Otero
Pastor Jose Padilla
Pastor Dr. Robert Perry

Pastor Jose Prieto

Pastor Kevin Profit
Pastor Siomara Quinonez
Bishop Rigoberto Ramos
Ms. Ana Rivera
Pastor Rafeal Rivera
Pastor Alan B. Thorne Sr.
Rev. Oscar Desruge-Sandoval
Pastor Gregory Saunders
Pastor Tyra Smallwood
Pastor Robert Smith
Rev. Kathy Stevens
Pastor Ffr. Miroslaw Stachurski
Pastor Nancy Ramos
Pastor Marcos Reyes
Pastor Rivera
Pastor Isaias Rodriguez
Youth Pastor Jose D. Rodriguez
Pastor Betty Rohuena
Pastor Jose Rohuena
Pastor German Rosado
Pastor Felicita Rosario
Pastor Roberto Rosario
Pastor Angel Sanchez
Pastor Edgar Santaella
Pastor Kelcy Steele
Pastor Cesar Velez
Pastor Hector Vera
Minister Juan Daniel Vera de Caballero
Minister Brian Walton