Court Appearance Thursday; Petition to Save East Ramapo is on Fire

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Petition on Fire, now share, share, share!
  2. Court Appearance Thursday
  3. East Ramapo subject of national education blog
  4. NAACP Events: Candidate Forum and Student Debate

1) Save East Ramapo Petition has 1,914 signatures!!!

Thank you to all who have signed the petition for the “Save East Ramapo” bill. This bill gives the NYS Commissioner of Education more power to intervene in East Ramapo.

This petition is open to all people, regardless of your age, residency status, or where you live, so please share with all your friends far and near.

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

Join the Petition Event on Facebook

2) Come to the Federal Civil Rights Court Date Thursday:

Date: Thursday May 2 at 3:00 PM

Federal Courthouse Room 421 – Judge George Yanthis

300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY

Learn more about the civil rights lawsuit

3) Diane Ravitch Blogs about East Ramapo

Diane Ravitch’s Blog post: When a Religious Sect Took over Public Schools is one of the top posts on this popular nationally acclaimed education blog.

4) NAACP Events

The Student Debate Will be held Wednesday May 1, 2013 at 6:00 pm at The Nyack Center 58 Depew Ave in Nyack.

NAACP Nyack Youth Council and Spring Valley Youth Council Present the Great Debate: Nyack Youth Council – Vs. – Spring Valley Youth Council.  Please come join us as our youth come together to educate the community on two very important issues: The second Amendment right to bear and keep arms & The NYC Stop and Frisk Policy

The Candidates Forum will be held on May 9, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Louis Kurtz Center, Main/Madison Avenue in Spring Valley. 

The Spring Valley NAACP and several Community Organizations have collaborated in hosting a Candidates Forum.  The Forum will introduce to the community at large, all candidates seeking the Trustee position for East Ramapo Central School District.  All six candidates have been invited and will attend this Forum. 

 

Reminder: Campaign today at 12; Petition Wow!!!

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Reminder: Campaign Begins Today
  2. Court Appearance New Date
  3. Online Petition WOW!!!
  4. Article in NY Magazine and on NPR!

1) Reminder: Campaign Begins Today

We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Bravo Supermarket in Hillcrest and immediately begin canvassing neighborhoods.  Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.  Our candidates this year are Margaret Tuck, Eustache Clerveaux, and Robert Forrest.

Where: Parking lot at Bravo Supermarket, 289 North Main Street in Hillcrest

When: Saturday, April 27 at 12:00 Noon

2) Federal Civil Rights Court Date DELAYED:

OUR DAY IN COURT HAS BEEN DELAYED AGAIN:

New Date: May 2 at 3:00 PM

Federal Courthouse Room 421 – Judge George Yanthis

300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY

Learn more about the civil rights lawsuit

3) Save East Ramapo Petition has 1,657 signatures!!!

That’s 500 more in two days! Thank you to all who have signed the petition for the “Save East Ramapo” bill. This bill gives the NYS Commissioner of Education more power to intervene in East Ramapo.

This petition is open to all people, regardless of your age, residency status, or where you live, so please invite all your friends far and near.

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

Join the Petition Event on Facebook:

4) Article in NY Magazine and on NPR!

New York Magazine Article: Them and Them

NPR Radio interview: Rockland County Conflict

Our Petition is on Fire; Another Court Date Change

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Court Appearance New Date
  2. Online Petition Takes Off Fast!
  3. Campaign for May 21 Trustee Election Begins Saturday
  4. Board President Quits
  5. Homework help now available at School Board Meetings
  6. Message from the editor

1) Federal Civil Rights Court Date DELAYED:

OUR DAY IN COURT HAS BEEN DELAYED AGAIN:

New Date: May 2 at 3:00 PM

Federal Courthouse Room 421 – Judge George Yanthis

300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY

Learn more about the civil rights lawsuit

2) Save East Ramapo Petition has 1,155 signatures

Thank you to all who have signed the petition for the “Save East Ramapo” bill. This bill gives the NYS Commissioner of Education more power to intervene in East Ramapo.

This petition is open to all people, regardless of your age, residency status, or where you live, so please invite all your friends far and near.

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

Join the Petition Event on Facebook:

3) Campaign for May 21 Trustee Election Begins Saturday

This year’s election campaign will kick off on Saturday.  We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Bravo Supermarket in Hillcrest and immediately begin canvassing neighborhoods.  Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.  Our candidates this year are Margaret Tuck, Eustache Clerveaux, and Robert Forrest.

Where: Parking lot at Bravo Supermarket, 289 North Main Street in Hillcrest

When: Saturday, April 27 at 12:00 Noon

4) Board President Quits

Newsday Article: Daniel Schwartz, East Ramapo school board president, quits

Lohud Article: East Ramapo board chief Schwartz resigns

5) Child Care now available at School Board Meetings

The PTA is now providing child care and homework help at school board meetings to make it easier for parents to attend.

 The next school board meeting is May 7 at 7:30 PM

105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

 Thanks to many who came out to the last school board meeting. For those who could not make it, highlights are available as always at www.youtube.com/luckylouproduction

 6) Message from the editor:

Are you aware that the infamous attorney for East Ramapo, Albert D’Agostino, verbally abused a student, in front of multiple witnesses, at a school board meeting? NO EMPLOYEE of ERCSD should be allowed to VERBALLY ABUSE a student and get away with it! We have ZERO tolerance for students who are BULLIES and we will have ZERO TOLERANCE for ADULTS WHO BULLY STUDENTS! It is unacceptable and unprofessional and students are demanding that the ERCSD Lawyer be FIRED.

The East Ramapo School Board has now had 5 presidents in 4 years.  Two have resigned while in office.  Meanwhile two board members are not running for re-election this year. I believe these developments are the result of the public spotlight which has been put on their actions by the major media, by Advocates for Justice, and by YOU, the reader. Keep up the good work!

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

Court Date Delayed; Petition for Intervention; Budget News

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Civil Rights Court Appearance DELAYED
  2. New Petition Online: The “Save East Ramapo” Bill
  3. School Board Meeting Next Tuesday
  4. Message from the editor

1) Federal Civil Rights Court Date DELAYED:

OUR DAY IN COURT HAS BEEN DELAYED AGAIN:

New Date: April 29 at 3:00 PM

Federal Courthouse Room 421 – Judge George Yanthis

300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY

Learn more about the civil rights lawsuit

2) New Petition Online: The “Save East Ramapo” Bill

Please sign the petition for the “Save East Ramapo” bill. This bill gives the NYS Commissioner of Education more power to intervene in East Ramapo.

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.

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, so please invite all your friends far and near.

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

Join the Petition Event on Facebook:

3) School Board Meeting Tuesday

April 23 at 7:30 PM

105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

The budget will be presented.  Details of the budget were first released tonight as reported in Newsday:

http://newyork.newsday.com/rockland/east-ramapo-budget-crisis-sports-teachers-on-chopping-block-as-district-contends-with-shortfall-1.5086446

On the chopping block:

• Seven elementary art teachers

• Seven elementary music teachers

• Seven elementary librarians

• 15 special education teachers

• 16 middle school and high school teachers

• All middle school sports and some high school sports, including varsity golf, cheerleading, junior varsity tennis and junior varsity volleyball

• Seventh-grade foreign language

4) Message from the editor:

Are you aware that the infamous attorney for East Ramapo, Albert D’Agostino, verbally abused a student, in front of multiple witnesses, at a school board meeting? NO EMPLOYEE of ERCSD should be allowed to VERBALLY ABUSE a student and get away with it! We have ZERO tolerance for students who are BULLIES and we will have ZERO TOLERANCE for ADULTS WHO BULLY STUDENTS! It is unacceptable and unprofessional and students are demanding that the ERCSD Lawyer be FIRED.

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

Forum Recap; Court Date Thursday

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Community Forum Recap
  2. Your Presence Requested at Civil Rights Court Appearance Thursday
  3. School Board Meetings Tomorrow and Next Tuesday

1) Community Forum Recap

Thank you to all who came out on Saturday for the Save Our Schools Community Forum. Many thanks and respect go to Bob Slade, James Mtume and Bob Pickett of the OPEN LINE Radio Show.  Bob’s philosophy on life is……”Your success in life is measure not by what you do for yourself, but what you do for others…a good deed done always comes back to you.” This could never be truer than when doing good deeds for children.

Our goals for this event were to

  • provide information about the situation in East Ramapo, what is being done and what solutions are being discussed
  • involve the larger community in sharing information and proposing solutions

Presentations were made by Arthur Schwartz of Advocates for Justice regarding the status of the lawsuit, and by Olivia Castor about issues in the High Schools. Everyone attending received the handout “What Can I Do?

Members of the community expressed concern with issues including school security and suggested tactics such as a boycott of school. Because of the extremely high turnout (more than 500 people), many questions from the audience were not addressed. However, question cards were saved and we will be sharing these with Power of Ten readers in future updates. One panelist also felt there was not enough time to share what she had come to say; her comments can be found here.

One of the most intriguing and hopeful new developments was that our NY State Representatives are sponsoring a bill which would give the Education Department more authority to intervene in East Ramapo. A petition supporting this bill is now available at: www.poweroften.us/petition

The complete forum is available online here: http://new.livestream.com/ggf/events/2027694

2) Federal Civil Rights Court Date:

PLEASE COME AND ATTEND OUR FIRST DAY IN COURT:

April 18 at 10:00 AM

Federal Courthouse Room 421 – Judge George Yanthis

300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY

Learn more about the civil rights lawsuit

3) School Board Meetings Tomorrow and Tuesday

April 16 and 23 at 7:30 PM

105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

Are you aware that the infamous attorney for East Ramapo, Albert D’Agostino, verbally abused a student, in front of multiple witnesses, at a school board meeting? NO EMPLOYEE of ERCSD should be allowed to VERBALLY ABUSE a student and get away with it! We have ZERO tolerance for students who are BULLIES and we will have ZERO TOLERANCE for ADULTS WHO BULLY STUDENTS! It is unacceptable and unprofessional and students are demanding that the ERCSD Lawyer be FIRED.

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

 

 

Reminder: Save Our Schools Community Forum TODAY

Reminder: Save Our Schools Community Forum TODAY:

Come to the “East Ramapo Save Our Schools Community Forum

Saturday, April 13

5:00 to 8:00 PM

Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship, 384 New Hempstead Rd, New City, NY

The forum will feature Bob Slade, James Mtume and Bob Pickett of the OPEN LINE Radio Show which can be heard on Sunday mornings from 10 – 12 on 107.5 WBLS FM.

This is your opportunity to come and hear and be heard, to learn about the issues and to be part of the solution!  When it comes to education, there cannot be a division of “our” children and “their” children; unless ALL children get an EXCELLENT education, the future will not be good for anyone!!!

Advocates for Justice lawyers will be there to update you about the class action civil rights lawsuit.

Student leaders will be there to tell you what is really happening in our schools. 

NAACP will be there to report on the federal civil rights complaints.

Our elected officials will be there to report on what is happening at the state level.

There will be information about charter school applications, changes in class size and special education services.

Sign up on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/493278877386547/

THEN PLEASE INVITE ALL YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS TO THE EVENT!!!

Save Our Schools Community Forum Saturday

Power of Ten Update

Save Our Schools Community Forum Saturday:

Come to the “East Ramapo Save Our Schools Community Forum

Saturday, April 13

5:00 to 8:00 PM

Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship, 384 New Hempstead Rd, New City, NY

The forum will feature Bob Slade, James Mtume and Bob Pickett of the OPEN LINE Radio Show which can be heard on Sunday mornings from 10 – 12 on 107.5 WBLS FM.

This is your opportunity to come and hear and be heard, to learn about the issues and to be part of the solution!  When it comes to education, there cannot be a division of “our” children and “their” children; unless ALL children get an EXCELLENT education, the future will not be good for anyone!!!

Advocates for Justice lawyers will be there to update you about the class action civil rights lawsuit.

Student leaders will be there to tell you what is really happening in our schools.

NAACP will be there to report on the federal civil rights complaints.

Our elected officials will be there to report on what is happening at the state level.

There will be information about charter school applications, changes in class size and special education services.

Sign up on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/493278877386547/

THEN PLEASE INVITE ALL YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS TO THE EVENT!!!

4-6-13 Rally Tuesday, Forum Saturday – RESPECT

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. RESPECT Rally on Tuesday
  2. Save Our Schools Community Forum Saturday
  3. Federal Civil Rights Court Date

1) RESPECT Rally on Tuesday

NO EMPLOYEE of ERCSD should be allowed to VERBALLY ABUSE a student and get away with it! We have ZERO tolerance for students who are BULLIES and we will have ZERO TOLERANCE for ADULTS WHO BULLY STUDENTS! It is unacceptable and unprofessional and we are demanding that the ERCSD Lawyer be FIRED. This has gone too far! Come to the rally and support your classmates! #RespectUs

Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 PM

105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

(at East Ramapo district office, board meeting will follow at 7:30)

2) Come to the “East Ramapo Save Our Schools Community Forum”

The forum will feature Bob Slade, James Mtume and Bob Pickett of the OPEN LINE Radio Show which can be heard on Sunday mornings from 10 – 12 on 107.5 WBLS FM.

Advocates for Justice lawyers will be there to update you about the class action civil rights lawsuit. Student leaders will be there to tell you what is really happening in our schools.  NAACP will be there to report on the federal civil rights complaints. Our elected officials will be there to report on what is happening at the estate level. There will be information about charter school applications, changes in class size and special education services.

Sign up on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/493278877386547/

THEN PLEASE INVITE ALL YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS TO THE EVENT!!!

The details:

DATE: Saturday, April 13

TIME: 5:00 to 8:00 PM

LOCATION: Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship, 384 New Hempstead Rd, New City, NY

3) Federal Civil Rights Court Date:

PLEASE COME AND ATTEND OUR FIRST DAY IN COURT:

April 18 at 10:00 AM

Federal Courthouse Room 421 – Judge George Yanthis

300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY

Learn more about the civil rights lawsuit

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