Breakfast for Justice

Children in the East Ramapo School District are being deprived of many of the most basic elements of education. The district has been gutted in a devastating and careless way by those on the school board. This can not be allowed to go on. There are many people working to try to restore education to the once prized school district and many trying to offer these kids a bit of hope. Supporting the class action suit is a powerful way to help.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 10-11:30 A.M.
AT THE HOME OF PAUL AND RABIA NAGIN
23 DOGWOOD LANE, POMONA, N.Y.

If you are unable to attend, please consider donating at http://poweroften.us/donate/ All donations are tax deductible.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/559411790832855/

Invite final

3-15-2013

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Commissioner King replies to our petition
  2. Newsday Editorial on profanity-spewing lawyer
  3. You can file a complaint too!
  4. Civil Rights Case in Court Tuesday
  5. Fundraiser March 30th

1) Commissioner King writes an answer to our petition:

Hon. Dr. John B. King, Jr., NY State Commissioner of Education, has replied to our petition asking that the state intervene in the East Ramapo School District! The Commissioner writes “I share your concerns regarding the district’s financial conditions and its effects on educational programming” and that he is “prepared to take escalating action, as authorized by law.”

The Commissioner also stated he believes “part of the solution is to enact the Board of Regents’ legislative proposal (attached) to authorize the Department to intervene in chronically underperforming school districts.”

This legislation would give the commissioner much more authority to intervene in East Ramapo.

It was sponsored by all state legislators representing East Ramapo when first introduced last year, as well as the chairs of both Education Committees. Read the summary here.

To ALL those who signed and wrote heartfelt comments in the petition, THANK YOU!

The list of signers and comments is available here: http://poweroften.us/fact-sheet/highlights/petition-for-monitor/petition-signers/

Pictures of parents and students delivering the petition are available: http://poweroften.us/fact-sheet/highlights/petition-for-monitor/

News coverage of the commissioner’s answers available here: http://www.lohud.com/article/20130314/NEWS03/303140043/East-Ramapo-activist-Ed-commish-heard-us-

2) Newsday Editorial on profanity-spewing lawyer:

The attorney for the East Ramapo School District verbally attacked a student of the district using language which would be bleeped out on cable TV. The incident happened on school grounds on March 5, just after the school board walked out of the meeting to avoid a 15 minute “students corner” segment. This was not just the attorney using rough language, this was verbal abuse in the form of “You are a piece of (expletive deleted)!”

Several people witnessed the attack, including a reporter for New York Newsday.

Newsday: Profanity-spewing East Ramapo lawyer needs to learn a lesson

3) You can file a complaint too!

The mother of the student has filed a complaint against the lawyer

As a taxpayer in East Ramapo, You are Mr. D’Agostino’s client. You have the right to complain about his behavior.

Power of Ten has created a form letter that you can print, sign and send to submit your complaint.

Complaints about the attorney’s behavior can also be sent by email to: East Ramapo School Board BoardofEducation@ercsd.k12.ny.us and Superintendent Klein at JOKlein@ercsd.k12.ny.us

4) Federal Civil Rights Case First Court Date

PLEASE COME TO OUR FIRST DAY IN COURT

Tuesday, March 19 at 9:30 AM

Federal Courthouse Room 421 – Judge George Yanthis

300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY

5) March 30th Fundraiser for Advocates for Justice:

Join the “Save Our Schools Coalition” for a fundraising event celebrating our fantastic students, and helping Advocates for Justice fight for civil rights and equality for East Ramapo. It will be a fun afternoon of auctioneering, guest speakers, food/beverages and musical entertainment. March 30 from 2 – 5 PM. Suggested Donation is $50.00. Donations to Advocates for Justice are tax deductible.

Please RSVP: http://new.evite.com/l/BEY76Q5OQP

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

 

3-10-13

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. School Attorney Curses at Student
  2. Fundraiser March 30th
  3. Calling all Candidates
  4. Report of the Rally on March 5

1) School Attorney Curses at Student:

The attorney for the East Ramapo School District verbally attacked a student of the district using language which would be bleeped out on cable TV. The incident happened on school grounds on March 5, just after the school board walked out of the meeting to avoid a 15 minute “students corner” segment. This was not just the attorney using rough language, this was verbal abuse in the form of “You are a piece of (expletive deleted)!”

Several people witnessed the attack, including a reporter for New York Newsday.

Her report can be found here: East Ramapo schools attorney curses at student after board meeting

Video of the school board walking out rather than allowing 15 minutes of student comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBC_m-SSLnc

Complaints about the attorney’s behavior can be sent to: East Ramapo School Board c/o Cathy Russell CRUSSELL@ercsd.k12.ny.us and Superintendent Klein at JOKlein@ercsd.k12.ny.us

2) March 30th Fundraiser for Advocates for Justice:

Join the “Save Our Schools Coalition” for a fundraising event celebrating our fantastic students, and helping Advocates for Justice fight for civil rights and equality for East Ramapo. It will be a fun afternoon of auctioneering, guest speakers, food/beverages and musical entertainment. March 30 from 2 – 5 PM. Suggested Donation is $50.00. Donations to Advocates for Justice are tax deductible.

Please RSVP: http://new.evite.com/l/BEY76Q5OQP

3) Calling All Candidates:

The Board of Education election is fast approaching. There is a lot at stake for the public school students. As many of you know, there is a huge budget deficit that threatens the very foundation of education for every East Ramapo student. We need 3 candidates who are thoroughly familiar with all issues facing the district. The East Ramapo Stakeholders for Public Education has experience in assisting candidates in forming a unified campaign and platform based on community concerns; as well as providing voter information, coordinating volunteers, and fundraising for school board candidates.

If you or someone you know is considering running for school board, please have a look at the candidate questionnaire at: http://poweroften.us/about/candidate-questionnaire/

Please send your answers to: steve@poweroften.us by Friday, March 15. There will be a meeting of all those interested ASAP after Friday.

4) Report of Rally

Over 120 Students and Parents rallied outside the district offices on Tuesday, March 5, in response to announcements at school that graduation would be changed.

Here are photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/109077540544836974769/EastRamapoNYStudentsOccupySchoolBoardMeeting3052013

And video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLvK1oMqtfc

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

 

 

10-29-12

Power of Ten Update

In this Issue:

  1. Advocates for Justice says school board members should not use district funds for their own legal defense!
  2. Federal Judge allows ‘discovery’ in class action lawsuit!
  3. Urgent: Your contribution is needed!
  4. Message from the editor

1) Advocates for Justice says school board members should not use district funds for their own legal defense:

Supporters of a class-action lawsuit against the East Ramapo school district want to block the Board of Education from using public money to defend school officials in several ongoing legal actions. Betty Carmand and Steven White, through their lawyers at Advocates for Justice, say that NY law does NOT allow for paying legal expenses when employees are acting outside the “scope of their public employment or duties,” and when they have NOT “appeared to have acted in good faith with respect to the exercise of his powers or the performance of his duties.” The actions of the school board members have been intentional, reckless, and borderline criminal; they have been cited by NYSED, the New York State Comptroller and the Commissioner of Education as in violation of law.

Why are we asking for the commissioner to act? Exorbitant legal fees are being incurred — at the expense of children’s public school education — to defend board members and employees for their wrongful acts. We are asking the Commissioner to stop the the board from gorging at what they have come to regard as their own personal “piggy bank.” The board shows no temperance or remorse in wielding a butcher knife to the ERCSD’s budget and carving out its purported entitlement to legal fees first, failing to consider let alone leave sufficient funds for that which its children desperately need most: educators and books. The wholly self-centered and conflicted board believes that legal coverage is automatic, and that they need do nothing more than vote to give it to themselves. Serious misconduct is at issue and is being investigated by no less than three separate state and federal agencies. Its president for nine of the last ten years is in State prison. The district is operating at a six million dollar deficit, and now has authorized the expenditure of millions of dollars in legal fees to defend what will undoubtedly be established as improper conduct on the part of its individual members. Were it simply a matter of money, one might not take such offense; however, the East Ramapo Central School District is comprised of thousands of children, most of them poor, who depend on East Ramapo for their education. They have suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable harm unless NY State intervenes.

2) Federal Judge allows ‘discovery’ in class action lawsuit:

On October 16th, Advocates for Justice appeared in Federal Court in White Plains in the first court date of the class action lawsuit. The lawyers for the school board argued to immediately dismiss the case, but were rebuffed by the judge. The next step in the case is called “discovery,” in which we will attempt to gather and organize all the facts and data. People with information that is pertinent to the case are encouraged to contact Advocates for Justice lawyer Laura Barbieri at (914) 819-3387 or lbarbieri@advocatesny.com

3) Your contribution is needed!

Advocates for Justice, a New York based non-profit 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. The damage is clear. 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!

This legal case is getting national media attention. All of America is watching what we do here in Rockland County to get justice. This is our opportunity to take a stand and send a strong message.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION is essential to the success of this action! Funds are needed NOW to continue the extensive preparation we need toward finally getting our day in court and securing JUSTICE for the children of East Ramapo!!!

The other side has for-profit law firms and they may be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars defending actions that hurt our children. We don’t need hundreds of thousands to win, but we need more money than our non-profit organization has now.

Please go to https://secure.qgiv.com/for/jk40ipsos/ to make your donation today. No contribution is too small.

If you can, automatically donate $10 per month or more. You can do it at the same web page: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/jk40ipsos/

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 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 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.

Tell your friends: “Justice is coming to East Ramapo!” And we have to go out and get it!

– Steve White, editor

 

8-19-12

Power of Ten Update

Your personal invitation:

I would like to begin this issue of the Power of Ten update with a special message for each of you. We have arrived at a point where our cause is being heard loud and clear in the halls of power.

Now there are a number of ways in which YOU can be involved. For those who have not yet really been active, if you have been waiting for a personal invitation, please consider this message your personal invitation to be part of the action.

No one can do it all by themselves, but if we each take a part, we can make a difference in the lives of the children of East Ramapo.

Here are the current actions that need your participation:

1) Class Action Lawsuit: 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. You can read all the details online at http://poweroften.us/legal-actions/class-action-lawsuit/

Your personal invitations:

  1. Help spread the word: print the class action flyer and pass it out to all your friends and contacts and wherever you go in East Ramapo.
  2. If you are a leader in an organization such as a church or a community group, make sure to inform the members of your organization about this issue.
  3. Sign the retainer yourself. Request it by email storre@advocatesny.com or by phone 845-554-5892
2) Participate in Events:
Your personal invitations:
  1. Come to the school board meeting on Tuesday August 21 at 7:30 PM (105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley)
  2. Come out on Thursday August 23 at 6 PM to support the students and recent alumni as they hold a press conference (outside of 105 S. Madison)
  3. Sign up for the event on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/events/277380969037251/

3) Help others stay informed:

Your personal invitations:

  1. Get others to sign up for the Power of Ten update. It’s easy to sign up right on the homepage: www.poweroften.us
  2. Join the Save Our Schools – East Ramapo Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/125700744243033/
  3. Do you have a personal story about what has been lost in East Ramapo? We are compiling a list- add your story at: http://poweroften.us/what-have-we-lost/
4) In the media:
Your personal invitation:
  1. There have been numerous articles about our issue in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, The Journal News, Preserve Ramapo, The Jewish Daily Forward, News 12, Channel 7 Eyewitness News, NBC News 4, WPIX, WCBS, and more. There is also the East Ramapo Underground call-in radio show on WRCR 1300AM every 2nd Friday of the month at 10:00 AM. There is also a YouTube channel devoted to bringing you information about East Ramapo. Share these with your friends, and take the time to call in to the radio and write letters to the editor of the Journal News at ncutler@lohud.com
To all of those who are working to ensure every child’s right to a great education- a very personal thank you!Steve White

5-26-12

Power of Ten Update
In this edition:
  1. Call for info on voting problems
  2. CBS Channel 2 News Coverage
  3. PIX Channel 11 News coverage
  4. Radio call in opportunity Tuesday
1. Call for info on voting problems at the May 15 election
If you or someone you know experienced problems voting in last week’s Board of Education Election, please contact Concerned Citizens of East Ramapo at concernedcitizensofeastramapo@gmail.com. Please be as specific as possible, providing the voters full name, phone number, email address and a brief description of the experience. We have been told that large numbers of voters were sent from one poll location to another, other voters who registered were turned away because their names were not in the County books, someone had already signed the book, etc. We are preparing a report of these voter irregularities to prevent these issues from happing again in the future. Time is of the essence, so please reply as soon as is possible.
2. CBS Channel 2 News coverage
SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A school budget crisis in one Rockland County community has officials considering the unbelievable.
The money is so tight, the East Ramapo School District could be the first in New York State to get rid of kindergarten, CBS 2’s Lou Young reported.
The little ones Young saw on Monday at the Early Education Center at Kakiat Elementary School had no idea they could be the last students to attend kindergarten in East Ramapo for some time. They were oblivious to everything, except the adventure of learning.
3. PIX Channel 11 News Coverage
SPRING VALLEY (WPIX) —

Eliminating Kindergarten? It would seem unthinkable, or at least illegal. But that’s what could happen while a budget showdown at the East Ramapo School District plays out.

At the heart of the issue is the large orthodox Jewish population that mostly chooses to send their children to private yeshivas, or religious schools … “People think, at least in the Orthodox community, that too much money is being spent, and they want to cut back.”
4. Radio call in opportunity Tuesday
From Sharlene McCallum: This past week on WVOX the radio program ‘Let’s Talk About It’ was about education and more specifically on the East Ramapo School District issues.
We talked about the budget, the cuts, candidates, kindergarten and other topics.
Dr. Reginald Hudson is the host of that show and would like to have next Tuesday’s time slot dedicated to East Ramapo again.
Please get the word out to everyone to tune in, call in and STREAM in to the broadcast. PLEASE tune in and call in next Tuesday.

Listen at: http://wvox.com or 1460AM (note…it is a Westchester station).

The call in number is 914-636-0110.

Tuesday May 29th at 5pm!!!