[poweroften] Support Advocates For Justice

Power of Ten

Special Edition: Support Advocates For Justice

Advocates for Justice has acted for East Ramapo parents and taxpayers since 2012 in a constitutional claim against the school board.  The lawsuit challenged the board's use of public funds for private religious schools to the detriment of public school children. The case has involved many depositions, motions and appeals, and discovery of over 200,000 documents.  A4J won most key motions for the plaintiffs, 3 of which were appealed to the Federal Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs lost the last appeal in a split 2-1 decision by the court.  The majority ruled that the student plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the lawsuit against the school board because they did not suffer "direct injury" from the board's actions.  There was a strong dissent by the third judge on the panel. Constitutional scholars advised us not seek appeal to the US Supreme Court, because considering the current make-up of the Court, it might issue a decision creating a bad precedent.

The taxpayers still have standing to continue suing the school board, but  the decision has been made to resolve the lawsuit.  The litigation was intended as one piece, along with political advocacy, in an overall effort to achieve positive change in the district. There is still more to do, but much has been achieved:  removal of the superintendent, ending illegal payments to private religious schools, appointment of a monitor to oversee actions of the school board, securing office of civil rights resolution agreements, and ensuring district compliance with the federal and state education laws.

A4J is a non-profit, which represents working people pro bono, advocating for equal rights and social justice.  They rely on foundation grants and individual donations.  Although A4J has not charged legal fees, they have incurred significant expenses related to the East Ramapo lawsuit.  A4J needs donor support to help cover these costs. 

If you would like to make a contribution to A4J, you may give online at:
http://www.advocatesforjustice.net/east-ramapo.html

or by check to:

Advocates for Justice
225 Broadway, Ste. 1902
New York NY 10007
Attn:  Liz Turner

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] Bond Vote: YES

Power of Ten Update

Special Edition: Bond Vote December 6

There will be a vote on December 6 to approve spending $60 million for renovations to school buildings and grounds. A YES Vote will benefit the children.

The NY State Education Department has responded to the NAACP request that they oversee the process. They say it is their "intent to provide the oversight and technical assistance to ensure the project is a success."

While it is reassuring to hear that NYSED intends to do its job, the NAACP letter also expressed concerns about a repeat of past abuses by the school board. 

What Abuses?

In recent years the school board has closed and sold two public schools (Hillcrest and Colton). They did this despite increasing enrollment and over the protests of educators and parents. At the time, one school board member said "buildings do not educate children." The buildings that they deemed excess and converted to yeshivas were the only two that were not on the state list of buildings in need of repair. 

Pressure to convert public schools to yeshivas has not abated.

There is massive pressure from developers to create segregated neighborhoods that require infrastructure including non-public schools. According to the lawyer for one yeshiva, there is competition with residential builders for land, and "the pressure is intensified" when the East Ramapo school district hasn't "sold any of its sites as surplus." 

Why vote YES?

The children need well functioning buildings. Passing these resolutions will result in better school environments for our children.

Yes, the school board could turn around and try close a newly renovated building, and sell it to their friends for pennies on the dollar, but we cannot allow ourselves to descend into hopelessness and despair.

Public school advocates now include: Strong East Ramapo, Padres Unidos of East Ramapo, Rockland Clergy for Social Justice, We The People, The NAACP, Advocates for Justice, East Ramapo Underground, and more. Elected officials at the local, state and national level have become involved. The school board has earned national and even international notoriety for their callous treatment of children.

In short, now is not the time to give up hope!

ONE MORE THING:

Each year, when the school budget comes up, voters where the majority of students go to yeshivas vote NO for the public school budget. Will they vote YES for the renovations? Are they hoping these buildings will one day be converted to yeshivas, like Hillcrest and Colton? How can they vote down money for teachers, and allow it for buildings, while at the same time we are told "buildings do not educate children"?

Despite this apparent hypocrisy, we must offer ALL the voters a chance to support BOTH sound schools buildings AND the educational programming they need to complete their education and be college ready.

The next vote will be in May. Superintendent Wortham must offer a budget that is based on the students needs. Just as ALL the voters are expected to support building renovations, ALL the voters should be expected to support quality programming. That includes small class sizes, collaborative classes for special needs, business classes, vocational classes, advanced placement, as well as support staff such as social workers, guidance counselors, etc.

These are needed for our children. There is no such thing as someone else's children. They are all ours. They are our future. They are your legacy and mine, together. If there are some who don't see it, we still can't walk away from it. Thanks to all of the Power of Ten readers, I know there are many public education advocates working for justice in East Ramapo.

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] Teachers ask for State Protection

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Teachers ask for State Protection
2. Action Opportunity: Stop Town Tax Ripoff
3. NAACP: Conditional Support for School Bond

1) Teachers ask for State Protection

In a Community View in the Journal News, the president of the Rockland County Teachers Association calls on the state to change rules for funding private-school programs: State must prevent the 'next' East Ramapo

This is one of the the most important letters ever published on the subject. It is worth a subscription to the Journal News just to read this one letter!

The letter is on behalf of the Rockland BOCES Staff Association, the Clarkstown Teachers Association, the Nanuet Teachers Association, the Nyack Teachers Association, the North Rockland Teachers Association, the Education Association of South Orangetown, the Pearl River Teachers Association and the Ramapo Teachers Association.

2) Action Opportunity: Stop Town Tax Ripoff

In the last edition of The Power of Ten, I reported that the Town of Ramapo is charging East Ramapo an estimated $1.2 million per year for collecting taxes, a service that other towns provide for free.

The superintendent of Ramapo's other school district, Ramapo Central, has written a Community View in The Journal News asking readers to tell Cuomo to sign a bill that empowers school districts to collect their own property taxes. This bill has already been passed and is waiting for the governor's signature.

Action Opportunity: Please go to the following link: www.ramapocentral.net/district/advocacy which has been set up to assist the community in reaching out to the governor.

3) NAACP: Conditional Support for School Bond

Willie Trotman, the president of the Spring Valley NAACP, has written a letter to the Journal News giving conditional support for the upcoming bond vote. His support is conditional because the school board just sold two schools which had been renovated as public schools, and then opposed legislation which would prevent them from doing it again.

No one knows better than Mr. Trotman the terrible impact that dilapidated schools are having on our youth. He is asking the state in this letter to guarantee that they will prevent our public education system from again being the victim of real estate speculators.

The East Ramapo school board is a pariah, a rogue board which has abandoned its mission. They cannot complete the function of "trustees" if they cannot be "trusted". They haven't admitted wrongdoing and they haven't changed their ways. They will have to be watched every second until an alternative governance system is implemented.

The school board could have guaranteed a pass for the bond vote, and extra state aid just by allowing more state oversight. The state could have passed the oversight over the objections of the board.

So the first two "NO" votes for the bond are really coming from the school board and NY State.

The NAACP deserves credit for putting the kids first. They are saying "YES" even if it is conditional. Right now they are down 2-1, but the state could still step up and provide the oversight Mr. Trotman is asking for. That second "YES" from NY could be the deciding factor.

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] What Happened to Your School Tax Dollars?

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Vote on Tuesday Nov 8
2. Yeshivas get Tax Dollars – for What?
3. Town of Ramapo Takes from School Taxes – Why?

1) Vote on Tuesday Nov 8

There are many important local elections this year. A complete list is available from The Journal Newsat http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/21/whos-on-ballot-rockland-candidates/92408902/

Preserve Ramapo has also endorsed several candidates this year. They are: Ellen Jaffee, State Assembly 97th District; Tom Deprisco, State Senate 38th District; Ken Zebrowski, State Assembly 96th District; Howard Gerber, Rockland County Court Judge; Pat Loftus, Rockland County Court Judge; and Bill Weber, Ramapo Town Council.

There will also be a candidates forum hosted by the NAACP and JAMCARR:

Thursday, November 3rd , 2016 @ 6:30PM
Louis Kurtz Center
Main / Madison Avenue 
Spring Valley, NY

Correction: In the last issue I misidentified the Assembly District of Ellen Jaffee. She is in the 97th AD. Please do not fail to vote for Ellen Jaffee, if you live in her district. If you do not, find out how you can help her campaign by visiting her webpage at http://www.ellenjaffee.com/

2) Yeshiva Parents to Dr. Wortham: Educate Every Child

NY State law and the regulations of the Commissioner of Education clearly place the responsibility for compulsory education of minors on the desk of the Superintendent of Schools. On October 26th, Naftuli Moster, an advocate for parents of students in East Ramapo yeshivas, spoke at the school board meeting and officially put Dr. Wortham and the board on notice that many, if not most students in yeshivas in East Ramapo are not receiving an education as required by law.

Please go to http://poweroften.us/ and sign the letter to Dr. Wortham asking her to prevent scare education resources from flowing to institutions where education is not provided.

3) Town of Ramapo takes money from East Ramapo schools

As reported in The Journal News, the Town of Ramapo is charging East Ramapo an estimated $1.2 million per year for collecting taxes. By comparison, the Town of Orangetown charges Pearl River only $60,000, and the Town of Clarkstown does not charge a fee at all!

Read the whole story: Rockland school district fights town tax fees

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] VOTE for Ellen Jaffee on November 8

Power of Ten Update

Special Edition: VOTE for Ellen Jaffee on November 8

If you are a resident of NY Assembly District 98, you have the privilege of voting to re-elect Ellen Jaffee. 

Assembly Member Jaffee has stood with the students and families of East Ramapo as we fought for state oversight of our school board. During the many trips we made to Albany, other assembly members often remarked at how persistent and persuasive she was. She is also sponsoring legislation to require that children who are not enrolled in public school are receiving an education.

For these reasons, I strongly urge every reader to vote for Ellen Jaffee on November 8. If you don't live in her district, you can still help by donating or volunteering on her website: www.ellenjaffee.com

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] Board’s Actions Cost District Millions

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Full Day Kindergarten Begins
2. Board's Actions Cost District Millions
3. Yeshiva pays $9 million for Temple Beth El

1) Full Day Kindergarten Begins

It was only three years ago that the district announced they were doing away with Kindergarten entirely. Now, because of constant pressure from parents and civil rights groups, ALL East Ramapo Kindergarten classes will be full-day!

The Journal News: Full-day K begins Oct. 6

Also, some of our favorite Art and Music teachers are coming back this year! We know  the children will appreciate that!

Special thanks are owed to Assembly Member Ellen Jaffee for her tireless work in securing the funds to make this happen. November 8 she is up for re-election, please make sure you get out to vote!

2) Board's Actions Cost District Millions

Several actions of the school board have resulted in millions of dollars lost to the children's education. Not only have these actions harmed the children, they have resulted in expense to taxpayers all over New York State who are now paying for services to East Ramapo.  Strong East Ramapo reports:

"In 2011, the School District entered into an energy performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. to install numerous energy efficient controls and devices throughout the School District's buildings. It seems that no actual contract was signed and approved by both parties. The School District was unable to secure financing for the project and was unaware that work had commenced. Johnson Controls claims to have done close to $1.9 million of work. The School District believed it should not be required to pay Johnson Controls the required amount as funding was not secured prior to Johnson commencing work done. This matter proceeded to mediation. The mediation session took place on Monday, September 12, 2016. There is now a Board approved agreement between the School District and Johnson Controls to pay $1 million over a five-year period starting in fiscal year 2017-18. The School District's 2017-18 proposed budget will include the first payment of $200,000."

In 2015, the East Ramapo School Board sued its insurer, New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR), to cover $2.23 million in legal fees the district owed its defense teams, the New York State Supreme Court ruled last year that the district was overcharged by $2 million, saying "a reasonable fee for the legal services provided is $187,500."

"In April 2016 New York State Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR) made a decision to drop coverage for East Ramapo Central School District. This decision negatively impacted the School District as it had to seek new insurance coverage in a very short time notice. There was no single insurer that offered to commit in insuring our School District. The insurance costs increased by over $900,000 on annual basis. The School District will continue working to identify efficiencies to accommodate this additional cost for the fiscal year 2017-18 and beyond."

This negligence is inexcusable: $2 million in overcharged legal fees, $1 million per year in extra insurance costs, $1 million dollars in unauthorized spending for "energy performance" work that no one seemed to know was happening. That's $4 million alone that could have been spent on children's needs. Students, families, taxpayers deserve much, much better.

3) Yeshiva pays $9 million for Temple Beth El

The Journal News: Auctioned Reform temple to become Satmar school

Temple Beth El was sold at auction. More than 100 buyers expressed interest, and four made bids over $8 million. The property included a 32,000 square-foot building on a 5.6 acre lot. The price is attributed to ongoing high demand for space by nonpublic schools.

Compare this to Colton Elementary, a 62,000 square-foot building on 15 acres, which the East Ramapo board sold for $6.6 million (minus rental credits), or Hillcrest Elementary, a 62,000 square-foot building on 11 acres, which was sold for $4.8 million. The value of these schools was estimated as over $10 million each. Even that amount now seems low in comparison.

Summary:

• Temple Beth El: 32,000 sq ft. on 5.6 acres: $9 million
• Two East Ramapo Schools: 120,000 sq ft. on 27 acres: $11 million

Both East Ramapo schools were sold to yeshivas by a school board that was found to favor the interests of yeshivas by a state monitor. The sales were closed while the monitor was doing his investigation.  Attorney General Schneiderman was aware of fraud by an appraiser hired by the district, but has not acted regarding the school board or the yeshivas (yet). 

While Dr. Wortham and Commissioner Elia and the teachers and parents and advocates are all working so hard and so diligently to improve the educational experiences of the children, we must assume that the school board is continuing its agenda to hand over more district real estate to their friends at bargain prices. There needs to be some fundamental change in the governance of the district to restore trust. 

 

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] Knowledge is Power

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Vote on Sept 13
2. Public Hearing Sept 7
3. Knowledge is Power

1) Vote on Sept 13

With all the attention in the media focused on the Presidential Election, many people may not be aware that September 13 is also an Election Day. This year, we have two races (at least) in which East Ramapo is an important election issue.

Ellen Jaffee has been a leader in the effort to get NY State to intervene in East Ramapo. She represents the 97th NY Assembly District, parts of which are in East Ramapo. She is being challenged in the Sept. 13 Primary Election,  She is very well respected by her colleagues, which has kept East Ramapo high on the agenda in Albany. As we continue to pressure Albany to intervene, her skills and reputation will be indispensable.

Krystal Serrano is running in the September 13 Primary for the 98th Assembly District. Like Ellen Jaffee, she believes that NY State must do more to protect public education in East Ramapo. Her opponent is the former East Ramapo School Board member whose tenure was marked by the closure and sale of public schools, massive escalation of legal bills, and schemes to use public dollars to pay for private tuition.

Please do not fail to go out on Sept. 13 and vote! If you don't live in one of these districts, you probably know at least one person who does. Please make a personal effort to encourage people to vote for these two supporters of public education.

A Candidate Forum will be held THIS THURSDAY:

NAACP and JAMCCAR Candidate Forum
Thursday, September 8th, 2016 @ 6:30 PM
Louis Kurtz Center
9 N. Main St.
Spring Valley, NY

2) Public Hearing Sept 7

In June, NY State passed a law to bring $3 million in extra state aid to East Ramapo.

The district is planning to use the money to provide:

Full-day Kindergarten for ALL
Various Arts Programming in Elementary School
More Collaborative Classes

Full details are available on the district web page

There will be a public hearing THIS WEDNESDAY: 

Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 7:30
105 S. Madison Ave
Spring Valley.

3) Knowledge is Power

You may have noticed that Power of Ten Updates are not always keeping up with all the latest developments.

I recommend that everyone sign up for the Strong East Ramapo list, which provides more frequent updates with more detailed reports. Strong East Ramapo also has a FaceBook group which has even more info.

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] Board Annuls Election Results – Community Responds

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. MLK Center Party was a success!
2. Board Annuls Election Results – Community Responds
3. Petition for Equivalent Education Continues to Grow

1) MLK Center Party was a success!

Thanks to our sponsors, committee members and professionals who lent a hand, and the nearly 200 people who came out on a rainy day to lend their support.

If you missed the party, you can still support the center. Click HERE to donate.

2) Board Annuls Election Results – Community Responds

The East Ramapo School Board has annulled the election of Sabrina Charles-Pierre. The board president claims that he forgot that Sabrina needed to be sworn in within 30 days after she was elected, which is required when an election is to fill a vacancy. During the past five years there have been several elections to fill vacancies, and the process of swearing in within 30 days was never forgotten. Both board president Weissmandl and trustee Grossman were elected to fill vacancies in 2014, and both were sworn in within 30 days. 

Strong East Ramapo has started a petition calling on Weissmandl to resign. Please sign and share.

There will be a rally at the next board meeting. Please do not fail to be there!

Details of the Rally: Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00 PM at the East Ramapo District Offices, 105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley NY.

3) Petition for Equivalent Education Continues to Grow

Attention to the issue of equivalent education continues to get mainstream media attention:

The NY Daily News: EXCLUSIVE: 1,500 sign petition urging Mayor de Blasio to approve mandatory science, math and history lessons for Orthodox Jewish students

Please sign the petition today!

 

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/

[poweroften] Legendary Party Sunday (Not Saturday!); Pressure Mounts for Equivalent Education

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Legendary Party Sunday (Not Saturday!)
2. Pressure Mounts for Equivalent Education

1) Legendary Party Sunday (Not Saturday!)

I don't want you to miss this Party! It will be LEGENDARY!!!

That's why I am publishing this important CORRECTION: The MLK Center Summer Sand and Soul Party will be SUNDAY (Not Saturday as incorrectly reported in the last edition).

Full Details: http://mlkmpc.org/2016/06/28/summer-sand-soul-a-day-party-with-a-purpose-fundraiser/

2) Pressure Mounts for Equivalent Education

The movement to ensure equivalent education in New York is gaining momentum. The YAFFED petition now has over 1,400 signers! Have you signed yet? Please sign and share!

Also, several important articles on this subject have been published recently:

Haaretz: Bill De Blasio Must Not Let ultra-Orthodox Jewish Votes Override His Duty to the Law

City Limits: Ultra-Orthodox Yeshivas Need to Meet Their Educational Obligations

The Forward: My Hasidic Students Need You To Support Enforced Secular Education

The Forward: The Flawed Legal Reasoning That Says We Shouldn't Force Secular Studies on Hasidic Jews

The Journal News: E. Ramapo schools improve, private schools' ills linger

The Journal News: Hasidic teen risks shunning for schooling

The Journal News: Some E. Ramapo yeshivas fail to prepare pupils in secular studies

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
poweroften@npogroups.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
poweroften-unsubscribe@npogroups.org

For all list information and functions, see:
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/poweroften

For more info about Power of Ten: http://poweroften.us/