East Ramapo Weekend Protests Grow

More than 100 parents, students and community members gathered in protest in front of East Ramapo school board member Yonah Rothman’s home Sunday in Wesley Hills.

Their message: “Rothman must resign.”

The protest was the fifth in Get Up, Stand Up: East Ramapo’s summer-long, weekly series of protests. “This was by far the biggest protest yet,” said Eric Grossfeld, one of the group’s founders.

The district, which includes parts of the communities of New City, Pearl River, Nanuet, Spring Valley, Suffern, New Hempstead, Chestnut Ridge, Monsey and Wesley Hills, has 9,000 students in its schools. However, another 24,000 school-age children live there, and go to private schools—mostly yeshivas.

Protesters allege that the East Ramapo trustees sold or rented district facilities to yeshivas at below-market rates; paid for religious textbooks for yeshiva students; and provided preferential special-education services for yeshiva students.

The group has changed the day for its next planned march to Saturday, Aug. 8.

Protesters also plan to attend the East Ramapo Board of Education meeting, which was tentatively scheduled for Tuesday after it was canceled on the spot July 28.

SEE: Letter to the Editor: East Ramapo School Board: Big Crowd, No Quorum

East Ramapo school board President Yehuda Weissmandl posted this statement on the district website about the abortive meeting:

Last night’s board meeting was unfortunate. We were indeed aware that there would be additional attendees and actually made 50 percent more seating available, but it wasn’t enough. This led to an uncomfortable environment. For this inconvenience, we apologize.

In addition, we had a problem with the unexpected absence of board members. Our district clerk, as she always does, dutifully contacted all members prior to the meeting and determined that were would indeed be a quorum. Unfortunately, due to last-minute, unexpected developments in the personal lives of members, this was not the case. Again, we are sorry that this occurred.

In the future, we will hold board meetings in the gymnasium or another suitable auditorium where space will not be an issue. In addition, we will enhance our efforts to ensure that the required number of board members is present.

Given the difficulties experienced last night, we will look to reschedule last night’s meeting to early next week (tentatively for Tuesday.) We will advise on this next meeting as soon as possible and invite all those who want to participate to do so.

PHOTO/ Nancy & Len Tsou