May 17^th, 2011 is a very important day for all residents and especially for the children who attend East Ramapo Schools. On that day all registered voters must go to the polls to vote on the budget and to vote for school board members who support all of our children. Each vote will have a profound effect on the educational opportunities for our children and, on the property values of our homes. Make no mistake, the two principles are inextricably intertwined and we must take responsibility for assuring a successful outcome. Campaigns have been lost or won by a single vote and what is at stake in this election is no less that the future of an entire generation of East Ramapo students. Whether or not you have a child in our schools your vote is needed.

There are 49,000 registered voters in the East Ramapo School District, fewer than 20% show up to cast a vote for the budget and for board members. The result-, we get what we did not vote for. The power and will of the majority of residents goes unused. And then, we spend the rest of the year complaining about the results of our failure to vote. The school board has been immersed in controversy for several years which has led to an unfavorable image of our entire community.

• The state comptroller’s office is examining district fiscal operations for possible improprieties
• The USDOE Office of Civil Rights is investigating allegations of discriminatory actions,
• The New York Commissioner of Education has temporarily stopped the sale of a school building offered to a private organization for well under the appraised value
• Budget decisions are poorly made with no invitation for community input
• There is no evidence of long range planning for budget development
• Decisions are being made that will lead to a major shortfall of funds in just two years
• Over 206 staff members have been laid off in the past two years, resulting in fewer educational opportunities for public school students.
• The board continues to focus on selling property to private organizations while ignoring the issues of student achievement
• Citizens seeking to speak at board meetings are ignored, disrespected and dismissed

It is up to concerned citizens to establish a community that is not divided by race, religion or wealth and to see to it that access to a quality education is a civil right guaranteed to all our children. A victory on May 17^th will bring to a halt, the crisis in our schools. You can organize a get out the vote campaign in your neighborhood, show up at the polls and, you can request flyers to distribute to your neighbors. You can also use your computer and telephone to make phone calls to registered voters by going to www.poweroften.us/new

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The East Ramapo School Board led by Aron Wieder demoted Dr. Ira E. Oustatcher Superintendent of Schools. Dr. O has been made the Director of Special Student Services at a salary of $252,000, while Dr. Joel Klein was given a raise from $144,000 to $242,000 to be the interim. Basically the two administrators switched places.

So we are going to layoff of teachers and give an administrator a $98,000 raise. This lunacy during these difficult financial times!

Watch for yourself:

View this video at at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiU6hH6oCxI

Please pass this along to all your contacts.

Thanks,

Antonio Luciano

2011 Candidate for ERCSD School Board

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However, we will not get the result that we want on May 17 if each of you does not get active starting today!  What can you do?  Here are the answers:

Contact Michael Miller at mill...@optonline.net and volunteer to be a captain in your area.  All that means is that you will keep track of the volunteers in your area and remind them to finish their work on time.

Contact Sandi Fox at sand...@gmail.com and volunteer to host a House Party to introduce the candidates to voters in your community.  These are really fun!

Another very important thing you need to do is to organize any community groups that you belong to. Especially those of you who are active in your churches or synagogues.  Every congregation should be hearing the date of the vote, the places they should vote, information on how to vote, and why this vote is so important.

Every single voter should get a phone call asking if they need a ride to the polls.  This is of the utmost importance if we are to win on May 17th.

Again, I want to thank all of you who have gotten us this far.  There are certain to be obstacles and setbacks between now and election day; do not be discouraged!  Our community is robust enough to handle this.

Remember, we are a service organization assisting the community members to advocate on each others behalf in a united fashion.  This campaign does not begin or end with us, it is not about us; the community we serve will always surprise with its resiliency!

Onward!

STEVE WHITE

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