1-31-13

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Follow up the petition with a phone call
  2. School Board members resign
  3. School Board meeting Tuesday
  4. Please support the class action civil rights lawsuit
  5. Message from the editor

1) Please Call Albany:

Thank you to all 4,994 of you who signed the petition asking for a State Oversight Monitor for the East Ramapo Central School District.

A brief summary of the petition campaign is available at http://poweroften.us/petition-for-monitor/

We are asking that you follow up with two phone calls:

The numbers:

(1) The Governor’s office: (518) 474-8390 (you will get an answering machine, leave a message)
(2) The Commissioner of Education: 518-474-5844 (this phone is only open during business hours)

What to say:

“I am_____. I live in _______. Please support the appointment of an oversight monitor for the East Ramapo public schools. The public school children need your action before it is too late.”

After you call:

 

Please write a note on the Facebook event page saying you called and what response you got, if any.

2) Suzanne Young-Mercer and Steve Price Resign:

The last two public school supporters on the East Ramapo School Board have resigned from the board.

The reasons that they cite for their resignation are truly eye-opening: http://poweroften.us/news/resignation-letters/

Media coverage of the resignations:

Journal News Editorial

Journal News Story

Newsday Story

3) School Board Meeting TUESDAY NIGHT

Tuesday, February 5

7:30 PM

District Offices

105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

4) Please support the class action lawsuit:

Advocates for Justice, a New York based, non-profit, public interest law firm, has filed a class action, civil rights lawsuit on behalf of East Ramapo School District parents, students, and taxpayers.

Advocates for Justice is not charging us a fee for this action, but they are in need of funds to continue this fight. They are asking us to contribute what we can. Monthly amounts are especially helpful (and easier on tight family budgets!)

Be part of the solution, contribute online, or mail a check to:
Advocates for Justice
225 Broadway, Suite 1902
New York, NY 10007

5) Message from the editor:

Now that Stephen Price and Suzanne Young-Mercer have resigned, the remaining seven school board trustees are all members of the yeshiva community. Their lack of transparency and civility to the public is notorious. Now we know that it extended even to fellow board members. The board says they plan to appoint two people to fill the seats. Given the “harassment and intimidation” that were directed at the previous occupants, one would have to question either the independence or the judgment of anyone who would accept the appointment.

The movement for justice in East Ramapo is gaining momentum and moving forward. The school board has been chastised by the NY State Comptroller; it has been rebuked by the Commissioner of Education; it has been found in multiple, repeated violation by NYSED. The NY State Attorney General is looking at their real estate transactions and the US Dept. of Education Civil Rights division is looking at their actions toward minorities, at the request of the NAACP.

Now hundreds of parents, alumni, and taxpayers have come together in an unprecedented class action civil rights lawsuit that will hold accountable those who have violated the public trust. Our case is being heard by the NY State Education Commissioner and by the Federal District Court. The whole community worked hard to build up a great school district, and we will not let it be destroyed by a few greedy men. – Steve White, editor

Justice is coming to East Ramapo … and WE can make it happen!!!

 

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