Time to Celebrate? We Can Change the World!

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Klein Resigns!
2. Public to Monitors: Focus on Justice
3. Board Meeting And Protest Rally October 13
4. Youth Film Festival October 17
5. He Named Me Malala Now at Palisades Mall

1) Klein Resigns!

In June, the state education department rated East Ramapo leadership as ineffective on every measure. Chancellor Tisch called for Superintendent Klein to step down.

On October 7, the school board held an emergency meeting at which they announced Klein would be gone by the end of the month.

The new interim superintendent will be Deborah Wortham.

This change represents just one of the many achievements of the East Ramapo public school activists. This year we have seen:

  • The departure of D’Agostino, the foul mouthed lawyer
  • Interpreters at every board meeting
  • Bilingual classes
  • Return of full day kindergarten for some (a sore point – it should be for all!)

2) Public to Monitors: Focus on Justice

Despite all of the advances, the public has made clear that a school board which has to have these things forced on them is a dysfunctional board. The public is clear that the board itself is the source of the problems and they are demanding a change in the way district leadership is chosen.

The Journal News: 6 takeaways: East Ramapo monitors’ first public forum

3) Board Meeting And Protest Rally October 13

Tuesday October 13 at 105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley at 7:00 PM

The next school board meeting will be at the central administration building. We don’t need to bring our “Klein Must Resign” posters anymore, we won that fight! But our students are still lacking many programs, and our school board is only making incremental change under intense pressure. Now is the time to show our persistence. Please make every effort to attend!

4) Youth Film Festival October 17

October 17th at the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center in Spring Valley, NY at 7:00 PM

The Rockland Youth Film Festival is an international movie festival that celebrates the work of youth from all over the world. RYFF was created for the youth, by the youth of the organization EELEF (Excellence in Education and Living Environments for Families) which is based in Spring Valley. The 2nd annual film festival will be held on October 17th at the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center in Spring Valley, NY at 7pm! Admission is completely free and the show is open to all age groups. Visit our website at Ryff.org and contact Daphnee at daphnee@ryff.org for tickets.

5)  He Named Me Malala

He Named Me Malala is now playing at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack. 

Sixteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban for being outspoken about her country’s education system. When the Taliban first came to her town, they focused on banning texts and videos they considered to be profane. This seemed right to many people. Then they started banning TV, the internet, and any other media source they did not control. Ultimately, they started killing those who questioned them and banned girls from attending school.

Malala survived and is now the youngest person to ever be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism for female education. This movie is the story of Malala’s fight for a right to education for children everywhere. 

“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”
– Malala