Power of Ten Update
In this Issue:
- Petition delivered to Albany with 4,994 signers!
- School Board meeting Tuesday
- Please support the class action civil rights lawsuit
- Jermaine Paul to sing for King Day at Spring Valley HS
- Message from the editor
1) Petition delivered to Albany:
On Tuesday, January 15, a group of 18 East Ramapo students, parents and activists headed to Albany to deliver the petition with 4,994 signers to the Commissioner and the Governor asking for a State Oversight Monitor to to take charge of the financial and educational administration of the East Ramapo Central School District.
A brief summary with photos is available at http://poweroften.us/petition-for-monitor/
Thank you to all who signed, commented, forwarded, shared, ‘tweeted’, and ‘liked’.
2) School Board Meeting TUESDAY NIGHT
Tuesday, January 22
7:30 PM
District Offices
105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley
Over 400 Community members, mostly parents, rallied at the last school board meeting in December to demand that essential programs including Kindergarten, Music and Art be preserved.
Kindergarten is still here, but Music, Art and more have taken big cuts!
Sometimes these meeting can be very long. It is not necessary to stay for the whole meeting. Whether you come early or late, whether you stay for an hour or until the wee hours, you will find other parents, students, and community members there ready to make good use of the time.
We are fighting to save public education, will you join us? We will NOT BE SILENT!!!
3) 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
4) Jermaine Paul at Spring Valley High:
The Martin Luther King Multipurpose Center is hosting a Celebration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 21st from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
There are over 50 sponsors and 150 entertainers including Jermaine Paul, the winner of NBC’s “the Voice” in 2012.
Jermaine was actually a student at the center when he was young.
The cost is free and snacks will be provided.
Where: Spring Valley HS
When: Monday, January 21st from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
5) Message from the editor:
The Power of Ten is dedicated to providing the info you need about East Ramapo. There are always a lot of rumors and myths being spun about the district and the community it serves. The Power of Ten provides information and analysis that you can use to stay focused and positive about our kids and our schools.
Some examples of info only available on our website:
Did you know that the district, according to its own study, spends $11 million MORE on services to the non-public schools than it receives in taxes from the non-public parents?
Did you know that almost HALF (43%) of our total school budget is paid by the state and federal government, not local taxes?
Did you know that the combined income of East Ramapo residents is greater than any other district in Rockland? And the percent we spend on public education is the least?
Now the Superintendent of schools, has acknowledged in his letter to the commissioner, that it is spending on non-public schools which is driving the deficit and the cuts to public education.
What does all this tell you? The problem is not a lack of funds, it is a lack of JUSTICE. The civil rights of the students are being violated.
That’s why we have a class action civil rights lawsuit, that’s why the Attorney General is investigating, that’s why the Federal Dept of Education Civil Rights division is investigating, that’s why the State Comptroller and the State Dept of Education have cited the district many times.
Do not be discouraged. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, but It Bends Toward Justice.”
Justice is coming to East Ramapo … and WE can make it happen!!! – Steve White, editor
“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. ― César Chávez