Power of Ten Update
In This Issue:
- Hearing on Legislation Tuesday
- Play about East Ramapo Issues Sunday
- Help Power of Ten Grow
1) The Rockland County Legislature is requesting that the New York State Assembly and Senate pass “The New York State School Taxpayers’ Protection Act”:
Public school districts in New York state have recently experienced numerous instances of financial scandals. These scandals have been unprecedented in both the number and diversity of financial malfeasance. Furthermore, such scandals result in the diversion of hard-earned property taxpayers’ money from their proper use in school instruction to improper and illegal purposes that do not further the school districts’ essential mission of educating New York children. Therefore, the legislature finds that it is necessary to establish a new, independent state agency charged with the function of investigating allegations of corruption, financial improprieties, unethical conduct, misconduct or other criminal conduct within public school districts outside of New York city. In addition, the legislature further finds that the current laws must be amended to incorporate school district financial safeguards and establish sanctions for violations of school district finance laws.
You can attend the hearing and even speak on the subject:
Tuesday, March 18, at 7:00 PM at 11 New Hempstead Rd in New City.
It is important to note that the successes we have had in protecting the taxpayers interests have been achieved through investigations by private citizens who then report these findings to the Commissioner. A State Agency to conduct investigations would be a welcome addition to our efforts.
2) Play about East Ramapo Starts Sunday
“East Ramapo” is a dramatic series of monologues and conversations of individuals directly affected by the situation in the East Ramapo Central School District. These include high school students from both public and private schools, administrators and community activists. Several of the actors perform in their own voices. The goal of the play is to provide an artistic opportunity for individuals with widely divergent beliefs and cultures to recognize and hear each other in a safe setting. East Ramapo was written by Mark Judelson.
Cast
Allegra Berg
Kevin Castel
Marissa Chin
Jean Fields
Mark Judelson
Willie Trotman
Alexus Williams
Performances:
Sunday, March 23, 2:00 p.m.
New City Library, 220 N. Main Street, New City
Sunday, April 6, 1:30 p.m.
Suffern Library, 210 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern
Saturday, April 12, 2:00 p.m.
CEJJES Institute, 5 Cooper Morris Drive, Pomona
Monday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.
Kurtz Civic Center, 9 North Main Street, Spring Valley
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 p.m.
Haverstraw Kings Daughters Library, 10 W. Haverstraw Road, Garnerville
All performances are free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Mark Judelson: markjudelson@yahoo.com www.storiesofpeace.com
Funding for East Ramapo has been made possible by a grant from the Puffin Foundation.
3) Help Power of Ten Grow
Power of Ten is an email newsletter delivered free. The mission is to promote awareness of the importance of education and the difficulties faced by families in East Ramapo in accessing quality education for their children. Power of Ten offers opportunities for readers to be active and assert their rights. You can help to promote this mission by inviting friends to sign up for the Power of Ten updates. Just ask them to visit www.poweroften.us and enter their name and email address. Thanks! – Steve White, editor