Last week based in an article in the Forward I published a critical piece on the school board in East Ramapo. I was contacted by one of the religious board members, Aron Weider (pictured ). He is a Trustee and Vice President of the Board of Education in the East Ramapo School District. Mr. Wieder complained about the one sided picture that the Forward and my critique painted of the religious members of his board. In the interests of fairness and balance I offered him the opportunity to present his side of the story. He accepted. What follows are his words:The following is in place of an article, exposition or essay. The intent is not to awe the reader with an impressive piece of writing. Nor will the writer utilize powerful words and their composition in an attempt to stir the emotions of the reader to elicit a preconceived opinion and or prejudices. The following are hard core facts and their source, written using simple words.
Fact 1. The current East Ramapo School Board comprised of a majority of Orthodox Jews more then tripled non mandated full day kindergarten. Before the first Hasidic Jewish Board Member got elected in 2008 there were only 4 full day kindergarten classes, currently there are 14 classes of approximately 24 students per class.
Source: East Ramapo Office of Elementary Education. 845-577-6050. Also see Fact 13.
Fact 2. One of the current Orthodox Jewish School Board Member raised money in the Hasidic community to donate the uniforms for the East Ramapo Public School Marching Band.
Source: Avalon Watford Public School Parent. Volunteer with the East Ramapo Marching Band, 845-521-0466. Please call only during day time, Eastern Standard Time
Fact 3. The Journal News in last year’s election indorsed Mr. Luciano a public school parent. In a May 6, 2010 editorial the JN wrote "At the very least, Mr. Luciano would bring a voice to the Board that will question decisions often made along a 6-3 split, with the private school community in the majority ". However 9 months preceding this editorial (as per minutes of board meetings available at that time on-line 7/01/09 through 3/24/10), out of 449 resolutions that the board voted on, only twice was the vote 6-3 split with the private school community in the majority. Once in 9/02/2009 and once in 12/02/09, both issues were not pertaining public school education.
Source: Journal News. No longer available on the internet. Can be found in the Finkelstein Memorial Library 845-352-5700. Board minutes. 7/01/09 through 3/24/10 & Board Minutes 9/02/10 Board Minutes 12/02/09
Fact 4. The Orthodox Jewish Board Members routinely visit all 13 Public School buildings and meet with their respective principals to discuss their issues and concerns.
Source: East Ramapo District Clerk Cathy Russel. 845-577-6015. See also Fact 13.
Fact 5. The graduation rate in East Ramapo for more then a decade has been on a downward spiral, long before the first Hasidic Board Member got elected in 2008. Last year the graduation rate increased under the auspices of the majority of Orthodox Jewish Board Members.
Source: NYS Education Department
Fact 6. When there was a vacancy on the Board due to the retirement of Richard Stone an Orthodox Jewish Board Member, the majority of Orthodox Jewish Board Members appointed Joanne Thompson, a public school parent.
Source: Board minutes 11/17/10
Fact 7. The square footage per student in the East Ramapo public schools is 190 square feet. The average in 5 other school districts in Rockland County (Clarkstown, North Rockland, Nanuet, Nyack and Ramapo Central) is 140.
Fact 8. The Journal News in an editorial on September 2, 2010 criticizing the Boards action vis-à-vis the sale of the Hillcrest Elementary School, wrote "In requesting the commissioner’s review of the sale, White asserts that… No Ads were put in the paper". However on 6/17/10 a paid advertisement appeared in the Journal News announcing a public bid of the Hillcrest School.
Source: Source: Journal News. No longer available on the internet. Can be found in the Finkelstein Memorial Library 845-352-5700.
The Business Office of East Ramapo School District 845-577-6060.
Fact 9. In the last decade student enrollment decreased by approximately 1000 students while the budget increased from $140,000,000 million to $195,000,000. Please see also Fact 5.
Source: NYS Education Department
Fact 10. From a total of 9 high schools in Rockland County only 4 other high schools offer more AP courses then East Ramapo School District.
Source: East Ramapo Office of Secondary Education 845-577-6020
Fact 11. In the school year of 2008 - 2009 over 980 therapy sessions (speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy) required by IEP's were missed for special ed. children from the Orthodox Jewish community.
Source: East Ramapo Office of Special Student Services 845-577-6040.
Fact 12. East Ramapo school tax in the Town of Ramapo in the year of 2009 increased 0.80%. East Ramapo school tax in the Town of Ramapo in the year of 2010 increased 1.30%.
Source: Town of Ramapo Tax Assessors’ Office 845-357-5100 x 255
Fact 13. Steve Price a public school parent, husband of a public school teacher, and member of the East Ramapo Board, in a letter published in the Journal News on May 19, 2009 wrote the following. “Anyone who regularly attends school board meetings knows that there are many positive contributions from the “non-public” board members. Richerd Stone has been recognized by New York State School Boards Association for Mastery of Boardsmanship. Aron Wieder and Moshe Hopstein have attended PTA functions and have visited many of our schools… The Reality is that since the ‘bloc’ took ‘control’, the board has made many enhancement which include a long desired full-day kindergarten program, improved energy efficiency in our schools, and expansion and renovation of the tennis courts at Spring Valley High School. This year the board made the difficult decision to close an under-utilize elementary school.”
Source: Source: Journal News. No longer available on the internet. Can be found in the Finkelstein Memorial Library 845-352-5700.
Fact 14. The Orthodox Hasidic Jewish community fundraised thousands of dollars to send a medical team to Haiti when the infamous disaster struck. There is a huge Haitian population in the East Ramapo School District.
Source: NYT, USA Today
