Power of Ten Update
In this Issue:
- Save the Date: Fundraiser March 30th
- Local Yeshivas subject of Jewish week investigative report
- Letter to the Journal News: East Ramapo fails public school students
- Message from the editor
1) March 30th East Ramapo Fundraiser for Advocates for Justice:
Dear Community Supporter,
Are you ready to stand up against the injustices that harm our children and taxpayers each day?
Join us for a fundraising event celebrating our fantastic students, and helping Advocates for Justice fight for civil rights and equality for East Ramapo.
It will be a fun afternoon of auctioneering, guest speakers, food/beverages and musical entertainment, at the home of Rabia Nagin in Pomona.
We are looking to build momentum as the Save Our Schools Coalition to rally the parents, supporters and children that make up this wonderful community!
Sincerely, The Save Our Schools – East Ramapo Coalition
Save our Schools Fundraiser
March 30, 2013
2:00 – 5:00 PM
23 Dogwood Lane Pomona NY 10970
RSVP: http://poweroften.us/events/4/save-our-schools-coalition-fundraiser/
2) Local Yeshivas subject of Jewish Week investigative report:
The Jewish Week, an independent community newspaper, is recognized widely as the largest and most respected Jewish newspaper in America.
Reporters Julie Wiener and Hella Winston document millions of dollars of federal assistance for technology and internet services to schools, including local yeshivas, which expressly forbid students from using the internet.
Here is the three part newspaper investigative series:
Part I: Haredi Schools Reap Millions In Federal Tech Funds
Part II: How Do Haredi Schools Get All That E-rate Money?
Part III: E-rate Program Dogged By Concerns About Oversight
Reporter Julie Wiener was interviewed on WRCR about her investigative reporting. Listen to the interview.
3) In Reply: East Ramapo fails public school students
Jody Fox asks “What has the board done to enhance or at least maintain the educational process for the public school student?” in his excellent letter to the editor of the Journal News
4) Message from the editor
We are getting ready to go into another budget season.
Once again there are a series of very severe cuts being considered.
But this year is different from previous years in several ways:
- Instead of drawing from reserves, the district will be paying off two years of deficit spending.
- Plans are being discussed which would knowingly violate state regulations to achieve budget goals.
- For the first time, the administration admits that spending on students who attend non-public schools is driving cuts to students who attend public schools.
- The Board is already on notice from the Commissioner of Education regarding their actions, including the illegal, unreported deficits over the past two years, the debt to BOCES, and illegal special education placements.
Even if the board enacts all the cuts they have considered, it is doubtful they will be able to get out of the hole they have dug over the last 5 years. The impact on students could be catastrophic, decreasing already low graduation rate and handicapping college opportunities.
Will Governor Cuomo, Commissioner King, and the NY State Assembly and Senate leadership be able to sit idly by while thousands of students are deprived of their right to an education?
Their action, or inaction, regarding East Ramapo will certainly be a prominent part of their record as time goes by.
Your action is also important in this struggle. Please join us on March 30th to support Advocates for Justice, which has filed a class action civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the public school students and taxpayers.
If you are unable to make it, please consider making a donation. Go to www.poweroften.us and click “I want to support the class action lawsuit”. – Steven White, editor
Justice is coming to East Ramapo … and WE can make it happen!