Letter to the Editor: Working for Solution in East Ramapo

The 2015 legislative session ended with Assembly passage of my bill (A5355) that would appoint a state monitor in East Ramapo. However, despite its passage and repeated calls from a diverse group of advocates, the Senate version (S3821) was never brought to the floor for a vote. It became abundantly clear that the Senate leadership had failed the public school students of East Ramapo.

On Monday, July 6, I met with newly-appointed Education Commissioner, Mary Ellen Elia, who has a deep understanding of the crisis in East Ramapo. “No question, we will take action,” she said.

Those of us elected to serve in the Legislature are charged with ensuring that the public school students of East Ramapo get the quality education that is mandated by the State Education Department and that our state constitution guarantees them.

The school board hiring new legal representation and moving the public comment period to the beginning of board meetings are positive steps in the right direction. But the recent release of three reports issued by SED over the past year, which detail the district’s financial deficits, mismanagement, and failure to provide adequate instruction to many of its students, as well as Chancellor Tisch’s recommendation that the board remove Superintendent Klein, further underscore the need for strong, real time oversight of the board.

I look forward to working over the summer with the Education Commissioner, the State Education Department, and the Board of Regents to provide a reasonable, long term-solution that will re-establish trust in the school board while addressing the unique needs within the district.

Assemblymember Ellen C. Jaffee

One Blue Hill Plaza, Box 1549

Pearl River, New York 10965

Phone: 845.624.4601