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East Ramapo Central School District

Call Governor Cuomo, tell him: “Save East Ramapo”

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Power of Ten Update

Call Governor Cuomo, tell him: “Save East Ramapo”

(518) 474-8390

In his State of the State address, Governor Cuomo appointed himself the students’ lobbyist. He said “…consider me the lobbyist for the students,” and “I will wage a campaign to put students first…”

Well, the students of East Ramapo public schools are in need of some results from their Governor/Lobbyist.

CALL GOVERNOR CUOMO TODAY!!!

(518) 474-8390

Tell him the East Ramapo Central School District was once considered among the best in NY State. Today, the graduation rate is just 74%, and for Hispanic Students just 54%!  Tell him he cannot let the destruction of East Ramapo continue!

The East Ramapo School Board has gutted public education! They have dramatically increased class sizes, decreased or eliminated arts, music, advanced placement and sports programs.

East Ramapo is not just another district with budget problems.  Our board has illegally diverted funds to segregated private religious schools, depriving public school students of their right to a quality education.  NY State MUST intervene!

Also, don’t forget, the online petition at http://poweroften.us/sign-the-petition/ will close on June 15th, so tell all your friends to sign right away!

Last Chance to Sign the Save East Ramapo Petition

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Power of Ten Update

Last Chance to Sign the Save East Ramapo Petition:

PETITION CLOSING DATE IS JUNE 15TH

The East Ramapo Central School District was once considered among the best in NY State. Today, the graduation rate is just 74%, and for Hispanic Students just 54%!  School board members have diverted funds to promote religious schools and gutted the funding of the public schools. They have discriminated against and segregated students on the basis of race and religion. At the same time they have created a massive budget deficit which threatens BOCES payments and thereby neighboring school districts.

Sign the petition at http://poweroften.us/sign-the-petition/

A bill, S4183-2013: “Relates to intervention in chronically underperforming school districts” would give the NY State Education Department the power to intervene. This bill has the support of NYSED, the chairs of both the Senate and Assembly education committees, and all of the state level elected officials representing East Ramapo.

Sign the petition at http://poweroften.us/sign-the-petition/

Then, join the Facebook event and invite your friends to sign too!

Tell Governor Cuomo and the leaders of the NY State Senate and Assembly that they must pass this bill to INTERVENE for the children of East Ramapo!!!

This petition is open to all people, regardless of your age, residency status, or where you live. Please add your name to those calling for state intervention for East Ramapo by signing TODAY!

1-31-13

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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!!!

 

8-27-12

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Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Student Demonstration Highlights Legal Action!
  2. School Board President Runs Afoul of Public Meeting Laws!
  3. What YOU can do to be part of the action!
  4. Message from the editor

1) Student Demonstration Highlights Legal Action:

A new organization: The Save Our Schools Coalition – East Ramapo is led by alumnus Carlos Ortiz. The coalition held a press conference and demonstration on August 23rd at the district central offices.

You can see graduates and current students talk about the East Ramapo Central School District and the actions of the school board here: http://youtu.be/lOsCjzddgFk .

The rally was covered by:

The Journal News: http://www.lohud.com/article/20120824/NEWS03/308220098/East-Ramapo-alumni-berate-school-board?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Newsday: http://newyork.newsday.com/rockland/east-ramapo-students-alumni-rally-against-school-board-1.3923422

WBAI 99.5 FM: http://wbai.org/articles.php?headline=Parents%20Sue%20the%20East%20Ramapo%20School%20District

2) School Board President Runs Afoul of Public Meeting Laws

Back in 2009, the school board attempted to shut down videotaping of its meetings . However, these meetings are covered by NY State Open Meetings Law , which protects the public’s right to know what entities such as the school board are doing.

Once again, it was Emilia White who was threatened with arrest for video taping at a School Board Meeting.

Once again, Ms. White stood up to the bullying tactics of the school board president.

Videotaping meetings has proven to be one of the most important methods of protecting the public interest from arbitrary and harmful actions by the board. Many thousands of people have been able to view the board at work through the diligent work of Antonio Luciano on his YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/luckylouproduction

3) “Advocates for Justice” Needs YOU:

Advocates for Justice, a New York based public interest law firm, has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of East Ramapo School District parents and students seeking monetary damages from some school board members, district officials and contractors.

We have lost full day kindergarten, guidance counselors, social workers, our award winning band director and hundreds of teachers. Our classrooms are overcrowded and our children are suffering!

IT IS TIME FOR ACTION! Find out if YOU can join in this action and be part of the solution! Go to http://www.saveeastramaposchools.com/ to join the class action lawsuit or make a donation.

4) Message from the editor:

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 the actions toward minorities, at the request of the NAACP. In each case, the board and the administration have chosen to find fault with the agency reviewing their actions rather than admit and correct. They are even suing the NY State Attorney General to prevent release of 1300 documents!!!

Many, perhaps all of these actions are the result of citizen activism which now offers the hope of actually removing those who abuse their office, getting an independent monitor, and forcing the abusers to pay back the district for all the harm they have done.

At every step of the way we have encountered resistance in the form of a divide and conquer strategy:

  • In 2009, the board tried to pit one elementary school against the other in a fake search for a school to close. We did not take the bait, and we stood together with signs proclaiming the sanctity of ALL our schools.
  • They tried to pit Kindergarten parents against other elementary parents, by offering Full day K to “some” in exchange for closing a school. Our solidarity never budged. (today we have neither the Full day K nor the school, which was apparently the plan all along).
  • The board has constantly tried to pit parents against teachers by blaming the budget problems caused by the board’s misconduct on the teacher’s union. WE NEVER BUDGED! Parents and students rallied behind our teachers, and other staff, by the hundreds!
  • Today, the board and the administration are trying to sow division again by spreading rumors that teachers will be laid off due to parent activists. These rumors are just another attempt to divide those who cherish education and all it produces so that the board can maintain its wasteful, hurtful ways. The truth is that the lawsuit filed on behalf of parents and the district seeks to PROHIBIT the expenditure of district funds to defend against the lawsuit or the appeal filed by parents.

It is up to each and every one of us to spread the word of the mission and the success of this movement, and to exhibit solidarity with the other stakeholders in the district. Our current predicament is not the fault of the teachers, or the comptroller, or the media, or the parents. The responsibility for the fiduciary disaster and the public perception that the district is not acting in the best interest of the students rests squarely on the shoulders of those named in the class action suit. Tell your friends: “Justice is coming to East Ramapo!” – Steve White, editor