Massive Student Walkout in East Ramapo

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Student Walkout
  2. Save East Ramapo Petition Now More Important Than Ever
  3. Budget Revote
  4. Message from the Editor

1) Student Walkout:

Hundreds of Spring Valley and Ramapo High School Students walked out of school on Wednesday to demand their right to a quality education.  The best estimate of the number of participants came from News 12, which had to dispatch a helicopter to capture the full extent of the 1,000 strong who attended the walkout!

Journal News: Hundreds of students walk out to protest cuts

Newsday: East Ramapo high school students walk out to protest cuts, poor conditions

2) Our Petition Is Now Over 4,000!!!

Have you signed yet? The 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) Budget Revote 

The Board of Education of the East Ramapo Central School District will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, beginning at 7:00 PM at the central administration building at 105 South Madison Ave, Spring Valley.  A public hearing on the proposed 2013-2014 budget will be held at 7:45 P.M. The revote will be held Tuesday, June 18.

4) Message from the Editor

Once again, East Ramapo activists brought out more voters than any other district in the area. Why is it that our students and families cannot get a break? When the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body matched that of the larger community, there was never a problem. Everyone wanted to pitch in for the kids.  Today, thousands of our neighbors are told not to participate in public education, and they are being told they don’t need to care about other people’s children. It is my firm belief that if people knew how much suffering is being caused they would not go along with this. However, they are told not to use the internet, or even watch TV.  It seems incredible that these things are happening in a sleepy NY suburb in the year 2013.  As has been reported in several national news sources, the racial/ethnic/religious nature of the divide has people very worried that hate could grow and fester. At this point in time, it seems as if only state intervention can protect education and defuse the hurt feelings. The time has come for us to hold our elected representatives accountable.  The first step is to get as many signatures as possible on our petition.  Please sign and share today.  Justice is coming to East Ramapo, and WE can make it happen!

Steve White, editor