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6-18-12

Posted on

Power of Ten Update

In this edition:

  1. Marching Band Director leads list of massive layoffs!
  2. How much did district pay for sending kids to private school?
  3. Budget vote on June 19
  4. Town Hall Meeting at CEJJES Institute
  5. Message from the editor

1. East Ramapo Announces Massive Layoffs

The board has voted on a program of layoffs which are absolutely unacceptable and irresponsible. Leading the list as the most ridiculous personnel move the board has made since it fired Pedro Santana, They have now voted to layoff Michael E. 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?

Also receiving layoff notices were BOTH Ms. Esquivel and Mr. Forman of Ramapo High School, and Ms. Greene and Mr. Winfield of Spring Valley HS.

There were dozens of other layoff notices, ALL of which will affect the educational program.

The complete list is available at: http://poweroften.us/new/2012-layoffs/

These layoffs are the direct result of choices made by the school board, NOT external financial factors or union contracts.

2. Impact of Non-compliance from NY State Education Dept.

In the last update, we learned that East Ramapo has been forced to post a notice to the community regarding the result of a finding of continuing non-compliance with regulations pertaining to placement of special education students.

We are now stuck footing the bill for these unapproved placements.

It was the school board’s choice to over-rule their own special education committee and NY state regulations. NY State will NOT reimburse these unapproved placements. According to the notice, there were between 86 and 90 such placements over the past two years. Placement in some cases can cost over $90,000 per student!

3. Budget vote on June 19

If you feel that the crass manipulations of the board are making you feel like your vote doesn’t count, take a few minutes when you get home from the poll and WRITE your representative about how you feel AT THAT MOMENT:

NYSED fraud, waste, and abuse line: http://www.oms.nysed.gov/oas/fraud/

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Ellen-Jaffee/

Senator David Carlucci: http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/david-carlucci/contact

Governor Andrew Cuomo: http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php

NY State board of Regents: RegentsOffice@mail.nysed.gov

Rockland Journal News: ncutler@lohud.com

Rockland County Times: editor@rocklandtimes.com

4. Town Hall Meeting at CEJJES Institute

Saturday, June 30, 2012 6:00 PM

The CEJJES Institute

5 Cooper Morris Drive Pomona, NY

Donation requested Adults $5 Students Free

What is the future of Education in East Ramapo? What does it mean for our children? What does this mean for the community of color? How do we move forward? If you are an administrator, teacher; educator or just a concerned member of the community we want to hear your voice. Please come out and take part in this very important conversation.

rsvp required to: CEJJESinst@gmail.com or 845 362 8610 by June 25th, 2012

6. Message from the editor

The layoffs that were announced this week are unconscionable. Our district has growing enrollment, stagnant teacher salaries, and more students with special needs than other districts in Rockland. Our district receives almost half of its resources from federal and state funding, but more than half of that goes to pay for services to non-public schools. The school board, dominated by members with family and community ties to those schools, chose to send local tax dollars to non-public schools, rather than use them to retain needed staff in the public schools. This is not a pro-taxpayer board. This is an anti-education board. They are being or have recently been investigated by the NY State Attorney General, the NY State Comptroller, The US Department of Education Civil Rights Division, and the NY State Education Department. The investigations come about because of complaints from people like YOU. Please write to your representatives and the other contacts listed above. With pressure, we will achieve a better education for our students and a better balance in our community. – Steven White, editor

 

5-14-12

Posted on
Power of Ten Update
Time to Vote!!!
Now is the time to remind all your contacts to Vote!!!
Polls are Open Tuesday, May 15, from 7 AM to 10 PM
What else can you do? Here are some ideas:
  1. Go to www.poweroften.us and sign up for the online phone bank. Start making calls, right from home!
  2. Go to the phone bank location (Flaregas Corp, 103 Airport Executive Park Blvd in Nanuet (near Costco) from 5 PM to 9 PM Monday and Tuesday
  3. Donate to the campaign at www.ccoer.com
  4. Help on election day! Call 845 354 5809 or email at concernedcitizensofeastramapo@gmail.com for info on how to help!
Remember, the work we do for our children is not only for today. They are watching us and learning how to be responsible, involved citizens.

4-2-12

Posted on
Power of Ten Update
Special edition: Announcing a new group!
The Concerned Citizens of East Ramapo is a new group which has formed and endorsed a slate of candidates for the East Ramapo School Board who are committed to putting “children first”.
YOUR HELP Is needed for the Phone Bank, the GOTV campaign, and monetary donations
Please read the following message from the group and give them your full support!
Dear Neighbor,
The stakes in this upcoming election for the East Ramapo Board of Education have never been higher. Nothing less that the fundamental value of a free public education is on the line. Decisions made by the present majority of board members have led to failed fiscal management and the moral bankruptcy of our school system.
It is time to change who leads our schools. You see, the American promise has always been that we educate all our children so they are prepared to become members of a democratic community. The defining issue of this upcoming board election is how to keep that promise alive.
We can settle for a dysfunctional school system that fails to use our tax dollars to educate students and also reduces the value of our homes or, we can begin to restore a school system where every child has a fair shot at success.
The Concerned Citizens of East Ramapo, a group of citizens who organized to restore our schools to the levels of excellence that in years past attracted a diverse group of parents to our community, have endorsed our slate because we are committed to putting “children first”. We are going to do whatever it takes to restore the mission of the board of education to protecting every child’s civil right to a free, public education.
Folks, this is a make or break moment for our children and our community.
That is why we are hoping that you will rush a donation to our campaign. Every dollar will help us win back the board majority. No contribution is too small. This is truly a grassroots effort.
Checks are to be made out Gordon and Gordon and mailed to 3 Cooper Morris Drive, Pomona New York 10970. Donations can also be made through our website, www.ccoer.com.
If you would like additional information you can call 845 354 5809 or email us at concernedcitizensofeastramapo@gmail.com.
Please visit our website www.ccoer.com to sign up for the phone bank. Email Michael Miller at miller66@optonline.net to participate n the Get Out The Vote Campaign.
On May 15 please vote for us.
Sincerely,
Kim Foskew, Hiram Rivera, JoAnne Thompson

3-27-12

Posted on
Power of Ten Update
In this edition:
  1. Video Highlights from Last week’s meeting
  2. ‘Budget Forum’ Wednesday March 28
  3. Martin Luther King Center Fundraiser
  4. Radio show “East Ramapo Underground” update
1) Video Highlights from Last week’s meeting
The videos from the March 14th meeting is here. You can watch them all at www.youtube.com/luckylouproduction
Some highlights:
Betty Brown says be your brothers keeper http://youtu.be/Rkmcr2tiB-M
Kim Foskew says give the kids what they need http://youtu.be/LvcDu1YqsAU
2) Budget Forum Wednesday, March 28th @ 7:00 pm
105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley
Once again, the school board finds itself trying to piece together a budget at the last minute, without ever having substantively discussed the failure of the district to respond to the needs of the students.
Please come to support the students, even if you can’t stay for the whole meeting.
3) The Martin Luther King Multipurpose Center Fundraiser
The Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center Inc. will hold its 21st Annual Awards Benefit Dinner Dance on Sunday, April 1, 2012, from 4:00pm – 9:00pm at the Clubhouse at Patriot Hills, 19 Clubhouse Lane, Stony Point, NY.
The honorees this year include Ms. Maureen Barnett – Principal, Hempstead School, East Ramapo and the Padres Unidos Parent Group of Ramapo High School.
4) Message from the East Ramapo Underground
For those folks who missed the first show of the East Ramapo Underground, you’re in luck. The show is now available!
The entire show can be heard at http://youtu.be/fPv5jFLyins
Remember you can follow the East Ramapo Underground by going to that Face Book Page. Press the Like button.
If you have questions or topics that you would like to see covered write to EastRamapoUnderground@hotmail.com
or follow them on Twitter at ERUnderground
The next show is Thursday @ 10 am on WRCR 1300AM, right after the Steve and Charlie Show.
Thanks, Antonio Luciano