Power of Ten Update
In This Issue:
1. Another Monitor Appointed
2. Protests Continue
3. Support Michel for Legislature
4. Trip to Long Island Sept 8
1) Another Monitor Appointed
Commissioner Elia and Chancellor Tisch came to Rockland County Thursday to announce that they were appointing another monitor for East Ramapo.
The Wall Street Journal reported: Former NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott to Serve as East Ramapo Monitor
The AP reported: DISTRICT RIVEN BY RELIGIOUS FAVORITISM CLAIMS GETS MONITOR
Commissioner Elia said she was “extremely troubled” and that “We recognize the seriousness of the situation.” However, the actions the education department is taking seem not to rise up to the seriousness of the problem.
We wrote to the Commissioner of Education in 2009, describing basically the same problems that the fiscal monitor found in 2014. While the state waited to act, hundreds of teachers were fired, programs were cut, and students suffered. The fiscal monitor issued a scathing report, but didn’t call for removal of the board. While he was conducting his study, the board sold two schools for less than their assessed value.
Commissioner Elia set a very different tone when addressing a Buffalo school board meeting. She said “Rest assured, that if the schools do not show demonstrable improvement, someone will come in under my authority and fix those schools.”
We are not ungrateful. We only want equal treatment. We want students in East Ramapo to have an education equivalent to what students in other Rockland districts have. We want NY State to act swiftly to remove the board and place our district in receivership while the issue of governance by a “not so simple majority” is resolved.
2) Protests Continue Tuesday (TONIGHT)
The whole world is watching. If you do not accept second class status, YOU MUST COME OUT and protest at the school board meetings. Invite your friends! Make a sign! If not now, when?
August 18, at 7:30 PM
Chestnut Ridge Middle School
892 Route 45, Chestnut Ridge, NY.
To receive reminders about meetings or cancellations, text the word POWEROFTEN to 84483 from your mobile phone.
3) Support Michel for Legislature
If there is one person who is most responsible for the degradation of East Ramapo, it is Aron Wieder. In Nov, 2009, Aron Wieder brought Al D’Agostino to East Ramapo. In June of 2011, the school board majority, led by Aron Wieder chose Dr. Joel Klein instead of Pedro Santana for Superintendent of schools. Last year Mr. Wieder (now a Rockland County Legislator) spearheaded the effort to block legislation that would have provided a check on the actions of the school board.
Rev. Jacques Michel previously held the seat the Mr. Wieder now occupies. As a legislator, Rev. Michel passed legislation opposing the sale of elementary schools. He participated in rallies along with parents. He is now running in the Democratic Primary on September 10 (yes, it is on a Thursday). This time, there is no other candidate to ‘split the vote’.
Please join Citizens for Rev. Jacques Michel for a Fundraising Barbecue on Saturday, August 22, 2015 from 6:00 PM– 8:00 PM, at The United Saints Church, 115 South Main Street, Spring Valley, NY. For Information or to RSVP 914.260.4118 or ToPreventCrime@aol.com. Please make all checks payable to: Citizens for Rev. Jacques Michel, 115 South Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977. We Hope To See You There!
4) Trip to Long Island Sept 8
The following message is from Strong East Ramapo. I encourage everyone to support this group and join them in thier actions:
Dear Strong East Ramapo,
I am thrilled to announce our first action of the new school year. While we are glad that Dennis Walcott and his team are in town, we must do the advance work of being prepared for the 2016 legislative session, given that Walcott’s team does not have formal authority to reform the district directly. This means building our support across the state to be ready to pass a strong oversight bill. In a series of actions that will culminate in being ready for an Albany visit in early January, Strong East Ramapo will be leading our first trip to Long Island on Tuesday, September 8 (the day before the first day of school). The trip will aim to forge relationships with allies who will pledge to lobby Senator Flanagan on our behalf for veto power when the time comes.
We plan on leaving Rockland in carpools from Spring Valley starting at 2. Visit www.strongeastramapo.org/action to RSVP and to receive more information. We need you there!
Thanks,
Andrew