Demand Better Leadership

The Power of Ten

Special Edition: Call to Action

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  for Superintendent of schools. 

Last year, the majority of the Democrats in the Rockland County Legislature supported the oversight bill offered by Assembly members Jaffee and Zebrowski and Senator Carlucci. Mr. Wieder, as the leader of the Democratic majority, should have carried their message to Albany. Instead, he spearheaded the effort to block the legislation.

The Rockland County Legislature Democrats should not allow Mr. Wieder to continue in a leadership role. His record as Majority Leader is inconsistent with Democratic Party values. He put his own opinions ahead of his duty to his fellow legislators.

There are three Democratic Rockland County Legislators who supported the legislation for a monitor in East Ramapo but have not yet indicated if they will oppose a re-nomination of Mr. Wieder. They are Toney Earl, Aney Paul, and Alden Wolfe.

Please call the Legislature at 845-638-5100 and ask to speak to Toney Earl, Aney Paul, and Alden Wolfe. You may be directed to their constituent representatives.

Leave a message:

Thank you for continuing to support strong oversight for East Ramapo. I am calling to ask you not to vote to approve Aron Wieder as Majority Leader. Mr. Wieder does not support strong oversight for East Ramapo. He does not respect our views and he has failed to represent you as your leader.

Then, E-mail the same message:

Hon. Alden H. Wolfe, Chairman
WolfeA@co.rockland.ny.us

Hon. Toney L. Earl
EarlT@co.rockland.ny.us

Hon. Aney Paul
PaulA@co.rockland.ny.us

Thank you,

Steven White
Editor, The Power of Ten

7-31-12

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Governor Cuomo Vetoes S7722!
  2. East Ramapo Parents: 5 on School Board Must Go!
  3. What YOU can do to be part of the action!
1) Governor Cuomo Vetoes S7722:

Governor Cuomo has vetoed S7722, the “special education placement bill”. He says: “This bill unfairly places the burden on taxpayers to support the provision of a private education”.

The East Ramapo School Board has been doing just that with its unapproved placements which continue to be a violation of State Regulations.

Power of Ten submitted a petition with 1715 signatures asking Governor Cuomo to veto this bill. We congratulate him for doing the right thing and for noting that part of the reason for his decision was communication he received from “hundreds” of individuals. East Ramapo was the only local school board not to write the governor requesting a veto. You can call Governor Cuomo at 518-474-8390, and thank him for vetoing S7722.

2) “Advocates for Justice” needs YOU:

The New York-based public interest law firmAdvocates for Justice, on behalf of 14 East Ramapo parents and community members, said it is calling for the removal of five board members and the appointment of a an overseer to remedy rampant abuses of office within the ERCSD School Board, and prevent future abuses. This major development has been covered in The New York Times and The Journal News, and featured with Art McFarland on Channel 7 Eyewitness News.

3) YOU can join in this action and be part of the solution:

To sign on, contact Stephanie Torre at storre@advocatesny.com , or (212)285-1400 or through the web form. Please contact them by the end of business on Friday to be sure to be included in any action.

7-22-12

Power of Ten Update

The Clock is Ticking!

The NY State Senate sent the ‘education placement’ bill to the Governor on Friday. He could sign it any day now, so there is no time to waste. Please reach out to all your contacts right now! E-mail, facebook, twitter, or any other way you know. As I write this, we are at 405 signatures, only 95 away from the goal. There is a link right from the Power of Ten homepage. Let’s stop this unfunded mandate that will promote segregation in special education. Thanks!

Only governor Cuomo can stop this bill from becoming law!!!

Power of Ten has created an online petition to the Governor

Sign the Petition Today

http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-andrew-m-cuomo-veto-s7722-the-special-education-placement-bill?share_id=TePXefzKwg

7-16-12

Power of Ten Update

Special Edition: Urgent Action Needed

In a previous update, it was reported that NYSED found the East Ramapo district to be in violation of regulations pertaining to placement of special education students.
A new law has been proposed which would allow the district to make these placements at taxpayer expense.  Only governor Cuomo can stop this bill from becoming law.
Please call Governor Cuomo’s office this week!

Call 518-474-8390 then ext 2. and leave a voice message:

I am (your name), live at (address and county) … I urge Governor Cuomo to to VETO S7722 (SAY THIS NUMBER!!!) – “special education placement bill”.  The bill DOES NOT protect special education children.  The bill favors religious groups over everyone else. The bill will cost public school districts hundreds of thousands of dollars and will create a segregated school system using taxpayer money.

Please also send a letter to the Governor: http://www.governor.ny.gov/ContacttheGovernor
An excellent example of a letter on this subject is available at: http://www.lohud.com/article/20120711/OPINION/307110024/Special-ed-bill-will-damage-districts
These sources will provide ample information to compose a letter to the governor:
The Rockland County Legislature has refused to take up this issue:
Full coverage of the action in the legislature is available at: http://www.preserveramapo.org/Preserve%20Ramapo%202012/county_legislators_turn_their_ba.htm
The issue was also discussed extensively on the East Ramapo Underground radio show:

7-8-12

Power of Ten Update

In this edition:

  1. Action items: Call the Governor, come to the county legislature
  2. Loss of Band Director hurts district
  3. Message from the editor
1) Action Items!
In a previous update, it was reported that NYSED found the East Ramapo district to be in violation of regulations pertaining to placement of special education students.  A new law has been proposed which would allow the district to make these placements at taxpayer expense.  Only governor Cuomo can stop this bill from becoming law.
The problematic nature of this law has been exposed in the Wall Street Journal and denounced on Huffington Post

Please call Governor Cuomo’s office this week!

Call 518-474-8390 then ext 2. and leave a voice message:

I am (your name), live at (address and county) … I urge Governor Cuomo to to VETO S7722 (SAY THIS NUMBER!!!) – “special education placement bill”.  The bill DOES NOT protect special education children.  The bill favors religious groups over everyone else. The bill will cost public school districts hundreds of thousands of dollars and will create a segregated school system using taxpayer money.

Please  come to the Rockland County Legislature meeting on Tuesday!

County Legislator Joe Meyers is planning to introduce a resolution urging Governor Cuomo to veto the bill.  The public can speak at the beginning of the meeting in support of this Resolution.

Time: Tuesday, July 10th at 7:00 pm (come at 6:15- see the next item)
Place:11 New Hempstead Road, New City

2) Loss of Band Director Michael E. Smith hurts district

According to The Journal News, “For more than 20 years with Smith at the helm, the marching band has proven itself a gem among East Ramapo’s athletic and extracurricular programs even as the district has floundered in other areas.”

What kind of school leadership would lay off  the one district-wide employee most identified as creating an image of success and pride in the district?

This same leadership last year fired Pedro Santana, whose leadership was inspiring a revival in school spirit and renewed optimism among students, teachers and  parents.

These were the two most prominent district-wide employees who were inspiring pride and hope in the staff and the students. Coincidence?

The Rockland County Legislature will honor Mr. Michael E. Smith on Tuesday, July 10 at 6:15 pm. (Please stay to support Joe Meyers’ resolution re: “special education placement bill”)

3) Message from the editor

Please take some time to look over the content on the Power of Ten website.  The story of our struggle is told there in documents such as the Comptroller’s report, the NYSED violation notice, and the Commissioner’s Hillcrest sale decision. It is documented in the videos of parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community members pleading with the board not to destroy our educational system.

For years, those who have been at the helm have cited financial reasons for their actions.  But how does this explain that they created a paid position (treasurer) for a close friend, Israel Bier?  This job had previously been performed by a district employee at no extra cost.  How does this explain that they replaced our long time attorney for one that cost about four times as much per hour? Or trying to sell two schools for a fraction of the appraised value? How about losing track of millions of dollars worth of textbooks loaned to their friends who run non-public schools, or violating regulations of the state to place students in non-public schools at public expense?  Is any of this sound financial policy for the district?

And then they fired Pedro Santana, the most effective and beloved administrator the district has ever seen.  And now they have let the LEGENDARY band leader Michael E. Smith go.

Are the board members  sincerely trying to protect the taxpayer?  The record shows that they have been cited time and again for failure to protect the taxpayer’s interest. The record shows that they have taken actions which hurt the reputation and morale of the district even when there is no financial reason for doing so.

This message is to the school board and the superintendent: as former NFL head coach Bill Parcells would say: “you are what your record says that you are.”

6-25-12

Power of Ten Update

In this edition:

  1. Budget passes by 3-1 margin
  2. Superintendent Klein lays off legendary marching band director, Nyack snaps him up
  3. NY State looks to roll back the clock on school desegregation 
  4. Spring Valley Senior Class President produces documentary video
  5. message from the editor
1) Budget passes by 3-1 margin
The  budget vote count on June 19 was 3562 YES and 1217 NO.  The budget which was passed included massive layoffs and cuts to programs.  A summary of layoffs can be found at: http://poweroften.us/highlights/2012-layoffs/ (note: because this is a pdf file, it may not be viewable from some smartphones)
2) Superintendent Klein lays off Legendary Band Director Michael Smith
For 27 years, Mr. Smith has led the World Famous East Ramapo Marching Band to Championships, Film and Television appearances, and over 600 local events.
What kind of school leadership would let go an individual responsible for so much success?
By letting Mr. Smith go, the Superintendent has betrayed the stated vision, values and mission of the district.   The board and the Superintendent have once again turned a deaf ear to the students and parents, who have come to many board meetings to emphasize that the Marching Band and Mr. Smith are achieving excellence.
The Nyack school District has benefited from our loss; they hired Mr. Smith immediately upon hearing he had been let go from East Ramapo.  They are looking forward to him bringing the magic to Nyack students that he has brought to East Ramapo for 27 years.
3) New law would legalize “family background” as criteria for placement
In a previous update, it was reported that NYSED found the East Ramapo district to be in violation of regulations pertaining to placement of special education students.  These violations occur when the district makes placements based on race, religion, or ethnicity rather than educational assessment.
A new law has been proposed which would allow the district to make these placements at taxpayer expense.  Only governor Cuomo can stop this bill from becoming law.  The following letter has been created as a template for you to write and express your view regarding this bill:

Dear Governor Cuomo,

The recently passed bill (NY State Assembly A10722 and Senate S7722) “Relates to determinations of appropriate educational programs for certain students” is a very dangerous bill. This bill is discriminatory in nature and was devised to circumvent Brown vs. the Board of Education!

This legislation would allow factors such as race, religion, or ethnicity to be taken into account for placement of special education students. This bill would make a mockery of Brown versus the Board of Education and encourage parents who desire segregated education at public expense to reframe a racist agenda as a multicultural one.  Allowing a consideration of “differences between the school environment and the child’s home environment and family background” in special education placement is clearly code for an agenda to school segregation supported by our tax dollars.

Please do not allow this bill to become law. It would be setback to decades of anti-discrimination and desegregation efforts, with NY State leading the way.

Thanks, (your name)

Please send your letter using the Governor’s contact form at: http://www.governor.ny.gov/ContacttheGovernor

4) Student Documentary Video by Hernz Laguerre

Spring Valley Student Body President Hernz Laguerre has created a video documenting the importance of extra-curricular activities in education.  Don’t miss this important video!

5) Message from the editor

Please take some time to look over the content on the power of ten website.  The story of our struggle is told there in documents such as the Comptroller’s report, the NYSED violation notice, and the Commissioner’s Hillcrest sale decision. It is documented in the videos of parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community members pleading with the board not to destroy our educational system.

This is a system which has been built up with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and countless hours of labor.  This is a system which has produced thousands of proud graduates who are contributing to society today.  This is a system which was once considered one of the top systems in the state.  According to Former Assistant Superintendent Joe Farmer, what is happening now is the systematic dismantling of this system, which amounts to a power grab that will destroy the potential of this community. In his words, “This is War!”

For years, those who have been at the helm have cited financial reasons for their actions.  But how does this explain that they created a paid position (treasurer) for a close friend, Israel Bier? This job had previously been performed by a district employee at no extra cost.  How does this explain that they replaced our long time attorney for one that cost about four times as much per hour? Or trying to sell two schools for a fraction of the appraised value? How about losing track of millions of dollars worth of textbooks loaned to their friends who run non-public schools, or violating regulations of the state to place students in non-public schools at public expense?  Is any of this sound financial policy for the district?

And then they fired Pedro Santana, the most effective and beloved administrator the district has ever seen.  And now they have let the LEGENDARY band leader Michael E. Smith go.

These were the two most prominent district wide employees who were inspiring pride and hope in the staff and the students.  

There is a documented statement by a lawyer for a non-public school that asserts a direct connection between failing public schools and opportunities for non-public schools: In a letter to the town of Ramapo in 2008, Mark Kurzman, a Pearl River attorney representing Bobover, said “there has been a serious, growing areawide need for yeshiva classroom space on all grade levels.”  He said yeshiva builders were competing with residential builders for land, adding that “the pressure is intensified by the fact that it has been well over 10 years since the (East Ramapo) school district has sold any of its sites as surplus.”

Were the board members whose close family and professional ties to the non-public school users sincerely trying to protect the public interest, or was this a ‘power grab’ to ‘dismantle’ public education in response to ‘intense pressure’ ?  The record shows that they have been cited time and again for failure to protect the taxpayer’s interest. The record shows that they have taken actions which hurt the reputation and morale of the district even when there is no financial reason for doing so.  This message is to the school board and the Superintendent: you are what your record says that you are.