Klein in Trouble Again; Rally Tonight at 7 PM

Power of Ten Update
In This Issue:

1. Superintendent Klein in Trouble Again!
2. Rally tonight – Oct 21 at 7 PM
3. Ward system forum canceled
4. East Ramapo Play Thursday

1) Superintendent Klein in Trouble Again!

The superintendent of East Ramapo school district has faced protesters calling for his resignation because of comments he made about Latino students. You might think that now he would be more careful with his words, but you would be wrong. When the Spring Valley NAACP wrote to him politely requesting clarification of his comments, he wrote back a less-than-polite response, and sent a copy to the state. Well, the NYSED fiscal monitor found there was cause for concern in both Dr. Klein’s comments and his tone with the NAACP. He is now requiring the district to show how they are providing education to English Language Learners.

The Journal News: East Ramapo: Compliance on immigrant rights questioned

2) Rally tonight – Oct 21 at 7 PM

The comments made by the superintendent of schools have brought into question the districts commitment to serving all of its students, and even its understanding of the law that requires it to serve all equally. 

Please join us in a rally right before the next regularly scheduled school board meeting.  We will once again call for Dr. Klein to resign. As the districts highest paid employee, he should be held to the highest standard.

Tuesday, October 21 at 7:00 PM
105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

3) Ward system forum canceled

The forum about the ward system which had been scheduled for Thursday October 23 at the Kurtz Center in Spring Valley has been canceled.

4) East Ramapo Play Wednesday

The Journal News: East Ramapo conversation, play, at Threefold on Wednesday

When: Wednesday, October 22 7-9 pm FREE
Where:Threefold Auditorium, 260 Hungry Hollow Rd., Chestnut Ridge, NY
Information: Contact Abigail Dancey
abigail@threefold.org or 845-352-5020 X25.

Nobel Prize goes to Education Activists

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:
1. Malala wins the Nobel Peace Prize!!!
2. Protest Discrimination Continues October 21
3. East Ramapo the play returns on October 22
4. Community Forum on the Ward System Proposal for Ramapo October 23
5. Panel on Environmental and Racial Justice in Nyack October 23

1) Malala wins Nobel Peace Prize!!!

On winning the prize, she said “This award is courage and hope for me and all those who fight for education.”

I want to share this message with all of you you fight for education in East Ramapo. This is courage and hope for all of us.

malalaHer full comments: Today, I was honoured to learn I will receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

I am proud I am the first young person and first Pakistani to win this prize. It is an honour I share with Kailash Satyarthi — a hero in the fight for children globally. More than ever, our world needs more heroes like Kailash.

I believe the Nobel committee didn’t give this award to me. I believe they have done this because they believe education is the best weapon through which we can fight poverty, ignorance and terrorism.

I believe they did this because they don’t believe in just one girl, but in all the girls whose voices need to be heard, who are under the darkness of conflict or poverty. This award is for my powerful sisters who have not been listened to for far too long.

And I raise their voices, I stand together with them.

I believe they did this because they believe we are #StrongerThan any challenge. We are #StrongerThan fear. This award is courage and hope for me and all those who fight for education.

When I found out that I won today when I was in school, studying Chemistry. I told my teacher I needed to finish my school assignment. Education is my top priority. I was learning with my friends, where I believe every child should be. But 57 million of them are still out school. We still have a lot to do.

The road to education, peace and equality is very long. But I know millions of children are walking beside me. If we go together, we will achieve our goals and we will complete our journey. We have to walk together.

I am honoured to walk this road with Kailash. I am honoured to walk it with you.

With Gratitude and Hope,
— Malala
www.malala.org

2) Protest Discrimination Continues October 21

Superintendent Klein has made comments which are offensive to immigrants. He has failed to apologize. No school board member has called on him to apologize. Now we must call for his resignation. We will continue the protest on October 21st.

Superintendente Klein ha hecho comentarios que son ofensivos para los inmigrantes. Ha fallado a disculparse. Ningún miembro de la junta escolar ha hecho un llamado a él para pedir disculpas. Ahora tenemos que pedir su dimisión. Vamos a continuar la protesta el 21 de octubre.

Tuesday, October 21, at 7:00 PM
East Ramapo District Office Building
105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

3) East Ramapo Play Returns

EAST RAMAPO, written by Mark Judelson, is a dramatic series of monologues and conversations of individuals directly involved in the East Ramapo Central School District. The evening will begin with a conversation facilitated by internationally known facilitator Roberta Wall (steps2peace.com) about the issues surrounding our school district. Using the principles of Nonviolent Communication ( wwww.cnvc.org ) Roberta will guide us in a model of conversation and small group processes that are meant to create connection around each point of view and the humanity of each speaker. This model will lay the basis for continuing a new type of conversation and connection among all of us. A special performance of East Ramapo will follow.

When: Wednesday, October 22 7-9 pm FREE
Where:Threefold Auditorium, 260 Hungry Hollow Rd., Chestnut Ridge, NY
Information: Contact Abigail Dancey
abigail@threefold.org or 845-352-5020 X25.

4) Community Forum on the Ward System Proposal for Ramapo October 23

A community Forum on the Pros and Cons of a ward system for Ramapo. Sponsored by Wake Up Rockland.
Come out to lean the Who, Why, Where, When and How of the Yes-Yes and the No-No vote on the referendum!!! Hear from all sides of the debate, plus experts in the field.
And you thought politics was boring!!!

When: Thursday, October 23, 6:00-8:30pm FREE
Where: Louis Kurtz Civic Center, 9 North Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977

5) Panel on Environmental and Racial Justice in Nyack October 23

What are the common links and solutions? Come help us find the answers…
Keynote speaker and Panelists:
Brian Jones Green Party Candidate for Lt. Governor
Marilyn Elie – Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition
Haley Pessin – Rockland Coalition to End the New Jim Crow

Where: The Fellowship of Reconciliation 521 N. Broadway Nyack NY
When: Thursday October 23 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Admission is free and there will be free Refreshments

Public calls for Superintendent Klein to Resign

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

1. Speakers at Rally Demand Supt. Klein Resign over Offensive Remarks
2. Justice Walker in Spring Valley Friday
3. General Election Candidates’ Forum Oct 15

1) Speakers at Rally Demand Supt. Klein Resign over Offensive Remarks

As the days and weeks have passed since Supt. Klein’s offensive remarks at an August board meeting, the unanswered calls for an apology have turned into a demand for his resignation. Adding insult to injury, Klein claims that the video was not a true representation of his words. Each missed opportunity for an apology is another offense to our students. The board fails to hold him accountable, just as they failed to hold Chris Kirby or Al D’Agostino accountable. It is because of the terrible power wielded by the bloc vote that elected officials can condone such offensive behavior.

The Journal News: East Ramapo protesters: ‘It’s discrimination’

2) Justice Walker in Spring Valley Friday

NYS Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Sam Walker will be the guest speaker at this Friday’s JAMCCAR meeting. The topic will be “Law Enforcement and Us: Ferguson and Beyond” – October 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Louis Kurtz Civic Center, 9 North Main Street, Spring Valley, New York

3) General Election Candidates’ Forum – next Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by Spring Valley NAACP, Nyack NAACP and JAMCCAR.
Louis Kurtz Civic Center, 9 North Main Street, Spring Valley, New York
Candidates for:
United States House of Representatives 17th District
New York State Senate 38th District
New York State Assembly 96th, 97th, and 98th Districts
Legislator 5th District
Town of Ramapo, Town Justice
Village of Spring Valley Trustee
Village of Nyack Trustee
County Court Judge

Protest Rally Today; Election Results; Playing Field Embarrassment

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Protest Discrimination
2. Election Results
3. Football Fields an Embarrassment

1) Protest Discrimination Today: Tuesday, October 7

The offensive comments made by the superintendent of schools have brought into focus the many ways the district is failing the majority of its students. Community members are calling for the superintendent to resign, asking for an apology, demanding a quality education, and asking that the board return its focus to providing that education.

Please Join us in a rally right before the next regularly scheduled school board meeting:

Tuesday, October 7 at 7:00 PM
105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

2) Election Results (or lack thereof)

There are no results to be reported because of possible fraud.

CBS Channel 2 News: Ramapo Town Election Results On Hold Due To Criminal Investigation

The Journal News: Judge orders Ramapo referendum votes impounded

If you have information such as:

  1. Being turned away by your polling station and not allowed to vote either because you were not registered or your name did not appear on the registration rolls.
  2. Witnessing people entering the polling station with affidavit ballots already filled out.
  3. Being turned down for an absentee ballot by the Town Clerk.
  4. If you were a poll worker at a polling station and were told to turn people away who were not registered to vote or if you are aware of whether your polling station had affidavit ballots available to people who were not registered to vote. We are interested in what your training was and what you were told to do.

Please contact Joseph Meyers at joe@legislatorjoemeyers.com
More information on what to do at: www.preserveramapo.org

3) Former Coach reports on conditions at games

Just came back from the SVHS football game. It is embarrassing to have anyone come to a game. The bleachers were closed because they are falling apart. The weeds have grown around the fence and track. The once beautiful rock backdrop is overgrown with weeds and bushes and generally looks like many of the homes in Monsey. No band. No cheerleaders. Visiting teams parents sit on ground or bring their own chairs. No snack bar. The fields are dry and dusty and generally disgusting.

This cannot be the Spring Valley my wife grew up in. It cannot be the Spring Valley I worked and Coached in for all those years. This B of E has made this a mockery. I really feel bad for those kids who dream of sports and their future in college. I see how our kids are being degraded and in spite of the B of E they made a great game and always conducted themselves with class and sportsmanship.

Tiger football is blessed to have great coaches who teach respect and fairplay. Unfortunately the same can’t be said of those leaders of the district who claim to educate children. Perhaps the coaching staff should be on the B of E. Great work Coach Delva and staff. -Mark Katz SVHS Football Coach retired but not forgetting the Orange and Black.

SVHS