[poweroften] Reminder: Rally September 2

Power of Ten Update

Reminder: Rally September 2

1. Rally Sept 2 to Protest Discrimination in East Ramapo
2. Sign the Petition: East Ramapo, Don't Discriminate
3. Join the Event on Facebook

1. Rally Sept 2 to Protest Discrimination in East Ramapo

Tuesday, September 2, at 7:00 PM
East Ramapo District Office Building
105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

We are calling on all parents, students, neighbors, and everyone who is shocked by this racist policy to come to the next school board meeting. Please do not fail to attend this important meeting for the future of our youth. When one group is targeted, we are all victims!!!

Bring your own sign if you can.  Some ideas for signs:

1. Education is my dream!
2. We all deserve a chance to succeed!
3. We all have rights!
4. No matter where I came from all I want is to have a better life!
5. We are the future!
6. Education, not discrimination!
7. Klein must resign!

2. Sign the Petition: East Ramapo, Don't Discriminate

Please also sign the petition at: http://poweroften.us/east-ramapo-dont-discriminate

3. Join the Event on Facebook

These days one of the best ways to spread the word is by inviting Facebook friends to come to an event. Please join online and invite all your friends too!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1454336758178648/

[poweroften] Dr. Klein blames Hispanic Immigrants for low graduation rate

Power of Ten Update

Special Issue: Protest Discrimination in East Ramapo

1. Rally Sept 2 to Protest Discrimination in East Ramapo
2. Sign the Petition: East Ramapo, Don't Discriminate
3. Join the Event on Facebook

1. Rally Sept 2 to Protest Discrimination in East Ramapo

Tuesday, September 2, at 7:00 PM
East Ramapo District Office Building
105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley

At the August 19 school board meeting, Dr. Klein proposed an "alternate transitional program" for Hispanic students. He made it clear that the students would not be registered in high school, but rather be provided with free food and English lessons. His comments were deeply offensive. This program would discriminate against students based on their ethnicity. We are calling on all parents, students, neighbors, and everyone who is shocked by this racist policy to come to the next school board meeting.

New York State law says a person under twenty-one years of age is entitled to a public education. East Ramapo Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joel Klein, who is responsible to deliver what the law requires, seems to feel that this law should apply to some people but not others. He wants to discriminate against: Hispanics, Teenage Parents, Immigrants, and Low-income people in general. Please do not fail to attend this important meeting for the future of our youth. When one group is targeted, we are all victims!!!

2. Sign the Petition: East Ramapo, Don't Discriminate

Please also sign the petition at: http://poweroften.us/east-ramapo-dont-discriminate

"…We call on you to cancel plans to segregate these students and instead focus on providing them the best education possible. We reject a second class status for some students. We call on you to restore the programs that have been cut in recent years, including those specifically designed to help English language learners and students, such as SIFE (students with interrupted formal education) and the intensive summer English program."

3. Join the Event on Facebook

These days one of the best ways to spread the word is by inviting Facebook friends to come to an event. Please join online and invite all your friends too!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1454336758178648/

 

[poweroften] Reminder: FRIENDLY’S FUNraiser for Justice in East Ramapo is TODAY

Power of Ten Update

Reminder: FRIENDLY'S FUNraiser for Justice TODAY

Thursday August 21 from 8:00 – 10:30 PM.

Come join us at Friendly's Restaurant, 15 N. Airmont Rd, Suffern NY for food and fun!

20% of all sales will be donated to Advocates for Justice, the non-profit public interest law firm that is representing East Ramapo Parents in their class action civil rights lawsuit.

Print this FUNraisingEventFlyer and bring it to the event.

Friendly's phone number is 845-357-7444

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/671162262965156/

If you're unable to attend but want to make a donation, go to www.poweroften.us and click on the Donate button.

[poweroften] FUNraiser for Justice in East Ramapo at Friendly’s

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Power of Ten Update

Special Issue: FRIENDLY'S FUNraiser for Justice

Thursday August 21 from 8:00 – 10:30 PM.

Come join us at Friendly's Restaurant, 15 N. Airmont Rd, Suffern NY for food and fun!

20% of all sales will be donated to Advocates for Justice, the non-profit public interest law firm that is representing East Ramapo Parents in their class action civil rights lawsuit.

Print this FUNraisingEventFlyer and bring it to the event.

Friendly's phone number is 845-357-7444

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/671162262965156/

If you're unable to attend but want to make a donation, go to www.poweroften.us and click on the Donate button.

[poweroften] Hillcrest Appraiser GUILTY!

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Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. GUILTY: Appraiser Sentenced in Hillcrest Elementary Sale
2. School Board votes to sell Colton, Hillcrest AGAIN!
3. Activist Threatened by School Superintendent
4. FUNraiser at Friendly's Restaurant August 21
5. Message from the Editor

1. GUILTY: Appraiser Sentenced in Hillcrest Elementary Sale

Back in 2010, the school board voted to sell Hillcrest Elementary School.  The sale was stopped by the Commissioner of Education and investigated by the NY State Attorney General. The appraiser was arrested last year and has now plead guilty and received his sentence in Clarkstown Justice Court.

The Journal News: E. Ramapo school sale: appraiser pleads to misdemeanor

Preserve Ramapo: "The Investigation Continues"

2. School Board votes to sell Colton, Hillcrest AGAIN!

Back in 2009, the district claimed that decreasing enrollment was the reason they wanted to sell schools. Since then, enrollment is up, with more than 1000 more students than the district had projected! Given the high demand of the private school sector for new space, and the limited supply of real estate in overbuilt Rockland, real estate values would be expected to skyrocket.  Why is the district selling off much needed classroom space at below market values? 

The Journal News: East Ramapo completes school sale to yeshiva tenants

The Journal News: East Ramapo: Board votes to sell Hillcrest school to yeshiva

3. Activist Threatened by School Superintendent

Trespassing wasn't considered to be a big deal for the East Ramapo school board or Superintendent, even when dozens of strangers were on school grounds during recess. However, now that one intrepid activist has taken his camera to document failures to maintain and secure our schools, they have decided that, in this case, trespassing is a problem. 

The Journal News: East Ramapo bans activist from schools

4. Class Action Lawsuit Continues, FUNraiser on August 21

Another fundraiser for Advocates for Justice has been organized by a Power of Ten Reader! 

This one will be at Friendly's Restaurant in Suffern, on Thursday August 21 from 8:00 – 10:30 PM.

Come join us at 15 N. Airmont Rd, Suffern NY for food and fun! 20% of all sales will be donated to A4J!!!

Friendly's phone number is 845-357-7444

Maybe you have a fundraising idea too? Contact A4J Executive Director Liz Turner at lturner@advocatesny.com; (212) 285-1400, Ext. 703) to share your idea!

If you're unable to attend but want to make a donation, go to www.poweroften.us and click on the Donate button.

5. Message from the Editor

In the 54 days since Governor Cuomo announced the appointment of a fiscal monitor for East Ramapo, the district has taken decisive action to complete the sale of two schools. By now, the monitor must know that: the Attorney General is continuing his investigation into previous attempts to sell school property; an appraiser hired by the district has plead guilty to filing false documents; and the Commissioner of Education previously found that "the board abused its discretion by hastily approving the sale of Hillcrest".

Now that Governor Cuomo has personally involved himself in the plight of East Ramapo, the course of events in the district is under his responsibility and on his watch. Just as we have thanked him for it promising action, we must hold him accountable for results. Education is a right guaranteed by the NY State Constitution, and the East Ramapo school board derives its power 100% from NY State. The school board has flouted the authority of the State Education Department; is evading oversight and undermining the authority of the fiscal monitor and the governor by pushing through real estate transactions before the monitor had even one month on the job. The Governor can stop this; if not now, when?

 

[poweroften] Clergy Applauds Cuomo, East Ramapo keeps abusive lawyer

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Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Clergy Applauds Cuomo for Appointing Monitor!!!
2. School Board Hires D'Agostino Again
3. Two upcoming fundraisers for Advocates for Justice

1) Cuomo Acts!!!

Rockland Clergy for Social Justice applauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch and Education Commissioner John King for their appointment of Mr. Henry Greenberg as state fiscal monitor for East Ramapo in a Community View in the Journal News: East Ramapo deserves fiscal monitor

The Power of Ten applauds them also!!!

Please call Governor Cuomo and thank him: (518) 474-8390

2) School Board Hires D'Agostino Again!?!?

The East Ramapo School Board faced hundreds of angry students last April chanting "D'Agostino Must Go!" after he verbally abused a student.  They did not even comment on the incident.  Three months later his associate was caught on camera hurling profanity at a parent.  The video went viral and public outrage included the media and elected officials. So the district announced that a transition to a new firm would take place.  One year later, after the worldwide scrutiny has died down, the board does the exact opposite of what they said they would do. The action brought quick condemnation from every level of civil society, but the East Ramapo school board appears to be insulated from any accountability for their actions, due to unwavering support from their 'bloc' vote. The system of local control of school governance usually works well to benefit the families and promote a better society through education, but East Ramapo shows this is not always the case.  

The Journal News Editorial: East Ramapo's lawyer games

3) Upcoming Fundraisers

The following fundraisers were organized by Power of Ten Readers.  Maybe you have a fundraising idea too? Contact A4J Executive Director Liz Turner at  lturner@advocatesny.com; (212) 285-1400, Ext. 703) to share your idea!

If you're unable to attend but want to make a donation, go to www.poweroften.us and click on the Donate button.

Frozen Yogurt Fundraiser:

DATE: Tuesday, July 29 from 5 to 8 p.m.

WHAT: Fundraiser to benefit Advocates for Justice – East Ramapo litigation. A percentage of all food and products sold on that day during that 3-hour window will be donated to Advocates for Justice. A representative from Advocates for Justice will be there to greet attendees and to answer questions. Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends for a tasty, healthy treat while supporting a wonderful non-profit.

LOCATION: Sweet Frog Connecticut
63 Hebron Avenue
Glastonbury, Connecticut 

ORGANIZER: Laurie Meotti, LaurieJMeotti@aol.com

ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE CONTACT: Liz Turner, lturner@advocatesny.com; (212) 285-1400, Ext. 703)

Guided Meditation Fundraiser:

Beginning on Sunday, August 3rd, and the first Sunday of each month, I will be meditating at F.O.R.. I hope you will come join me. I'll be offering a little guidance at the beginning, but mostly this will be an opportunity to meditate in silence with like-minded people. There will be no charge. Donations will go to a specific local activist group working for the environment, social justice and peace.

Blessings and peace,

Alan Levin
www.SacredRiverHealing.org

This August 3rd, donations will go to Advocates for Justice, a non-profit group working for the students of East Ramapo to get a fair shake and good education. 

Time/Date: 10 A.M. to Noon – August 3rd – Sunday (Come for all or part.)

Location: F.O.R., the Fellowship of Reconciliation, 521 No. Broadway, Nyack