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class action

1-31-13

Posted on

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Follow up the petition with a phone call
  2. School Board members resign
  3. School Board meeting Tuesday
  4. Please support the class action civil rights lawsuit
  5. Message from the editor

1) Please Call Albany:

Thank you to all 4,994 of you who signed the petition asking for a State Oversight Monitor for the East Ramapo Central School District.

A brief summary of the petition campaign is available at http://poweroften.us/petition-for-monitor/

We are asking that you follow up with two phone calls:

The numbers:

(1) The Governor’s office: (518) 474-8390 (you will get an answering machine, leave a message)
(2) The Commissioner of Education: 518-474-5844 (this phone is only open during business hours)

What to say:

“I am_____. I live in _______. Please support the appointment of an oversight monitor for the East Ramapo public schools. The public school children need your action before it is too late.”

After you call:

 

Please write a note on the Facebook event page saying you called and what response you got, if any.

2) Suzanne Young-Mercer and Steve Price Resign:

The last two public school supporters on the East Ramapo School Board have resigned from the board.

The reasons that they cite for their resignation are truly eye-opening: http://poweroften.us/news/resignation-letters/

Media coverage of the resignations:

Journal News Editorial

Journal News Story

Newsday Story

3) School Board Meeting TUESDAY NIGHT

Tuesday, February 5

7:30 PM

District Offices

105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

4) Please support the class action lawsuit:

Advocates for Justice, a New York based, non-profit, public interest law firm, has filed a class action, civil rights lawsuit on behalf of East Ramapo School District parents, students, and taxpayers.

Advocates for Justice is not charging us a fee for this action, but they are in need of funds to continue this fight. They are asking us to contribute what we can. Monthly amounts are especially helpful (and easier on tight family budgets!)

Be part of the solution, contribute online, or mail a check to:
Advocates for Justice
225 Broadway, Suite 1902
New York, NY 10007

5) Message from the editor:

Now that Stephen Price and Suzanne Young-Mercer have resigned, the remaining seven school board trustees are all members of the yeshiva community. Their lack of transparency and civility to the public is notorious. Now we know that it extended even to fellow board members. The board says they plan to appoint two people to fill the seats. Given the “harassment and intimidation” that were directed at the previous occupants, one would have to question either the independence or the judgment of anyone who would accept the appointment.

The movement for justice in East Ramapo is gaining momentum and moving forward. The school board has been chastised by the NY State Comptroller; it has been rebuked by the Commissioner of Education; it has been found in multiple, repeated violation by NYSED. The NY State Attorney General is looking at their real estate transactions and the US Dept. of Education Civil Rights division is looking at their actions toward minorities, at the request of the NAACP.

Now hundreds of parents, alumni, and taxpayers have come together in an unprecedented class action civil rights lawsuit that will hold accountable those who have violated the public trust. Our case is being heard by the NY State Education Commissioner and by the Federal District Court. The whole community worked hard to build up a great school district, and we will not let it be destroyed by a few greedy men. – Steve White, editor

Justice is coming to East Ramapo … and WE can make it happen!!!

 

12-27-12

Posted on

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Petition almost at 1500 signers
  2. Please support the class action civil rights lawsuit

1) Petition for state oversight of East Ramapo is on Fire

There are now almost 1500 signers to the petition at www.poweroften.us/petition which was created only 7 days ago. Please share the petition with all your email contacts and friends on Facebook.

There is a Facebook event page at: http://www.facebook.com/events/342604792513847/ Clicking “Going” to the event is a great way to show your support and also an easy way to spread the word.

Expect to get a confirmation email for your petition signature. Please add steve@poweroften.us to your “safe sender” list, (aka contact list, friend list or address book) to ensure that the confirmation goes to your inbox.

2) Please support the class action lawsuit:

Advocates for Justice, a New York based, non-profit, public interest law firm, has filed a class action, civil rights lawsuit on behalf of East Ramapo School District parents, students, and taxpayers.

Advocates for Justice is not charging us a fee for this action, but they are in need funds to continue this fight. They are asking us to contribute what we can. Monthly amounts are especially helpful (and easier on tight family budgets!)
Be part of the solution, contribute online, or mail a check to:
Advocates for Justice
225 Broadway, Suite 1902
New York, NY 10007

 

11-11-12

Posted on

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Urgent: Your contribution is needed!
  2. Insurance coverage denied for board members and employees alleged “wrongful acts”
  3. Appeal filed to block use of school funds to pay for lawyers

1) Please support the class action lawsuit:

In 2009, East Ramapo parents first got together to chant “Save Our Schools”.

Over the years, we have worked hard to protect the students’ right to an education and the investment that taxpayers have made in their homes and in a first quality education system for our community. However, powerful interests which seem to be indifferent or even hostile to our students and our taxpayers investments have caused the quality of education to suffer and resulted in loss of value to our multimillion dollar school system and our home values as well.

Today, we have formed the Save Our Schools Coalition, and we are fighting back with a class action civil rights lawsuit!

Advocates for Justice, a New York based, non-profit, public interest law firm, has filed this lawsuit on behalf of East Ramapo School District parents, students, and taxpayers.

Advocates for Justice is not charging us a fee for this action, but they are in need funds to continue this fight. They are asking us to contribute what we can. Monthly amounts are especially helpful (and easier on tight family budgets!)

Be part of the solution, contribute online, or mail a check to:

Advocates for Justice

225 Broadway, Suite 1902

New York, NY 10007

 2) Insurance coverage denied for board members and employees alleged “wrongful acts”:

The New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (“NYSIR”), has declined coverage to the school board members and employees named as defendants in our class action civil rights lawsuit : “For all the reasons detailed herein, we write … to inform you that NYSIR hereby denies coverage to … ERCSD Board members … (and employees) … with respect to all of the claims asserted in the (class action lawsuit).” “the NYSIR policy precludes coverage to the insureds above regarding the “fraudulent, dishonest, malicious, criminal or intentional wrongful act(s) or omission(s)” alleged by the (class action lawsuit), NYSIR hereby disclaims coverage …” “In addition, the (class action lawsuit) alleges that ERCSD Board members … (and employees) … have violated and/or have failed to comply with state and federal special education laws. The NYSIR policy excludes coverage for any claims arising out of the failure to provide “an appropriate individualized education program or related facilities or services”, including but not limited to any cause of action under relevant state or federal statutes or other laws, administrative rules or regulations. Therefore, NYSIR hereby disclaims coverage.”

3) Appeal filed to block use of school funds to pay for lawyers:

School officials and employees may be represented at district expense when lawsuits arise from acting in their official capacity. However, the law does not allow the district to pay for counsel to officers or employees acting outside the scope of their public employment or duties. The actions of the board members and employees named in the class action lawsuit have been intentional, reckless, and borderline criminal. They have already been cited by NYSED, the New York State Comptroller and the Commissioner of Education as in violation of law. They have also used district funds to sue the NY State Attorney General, who is investigating their real estate dealings. As NYSIR noted, EACH and EVERY action is alleged to be “fraudulent, dishonest, malicious, criminal or intentional wrongful act(s) or omission(s)”. These are actions already found to be violation by the NY Education Department itself or by the NY State Comptroller. Nowhere does the law provide for the board members to approve expenses proactively suing the NY State Attorney General on their behalf. For the same reasons that hey have been denied insurance coverage, and more, the defendants should be denied the use of district funds. NY State courts have stated that coverage under public officers law is analogous to an insurance company’s contract. We have requested an Emergency Stay from the Commissioner to stop the board from further abusing public funds.

Tell your friends: “Justice is coming to East Ramapo!” … and WE can make it happen!

 

– Steve White, editor