State Must Close Temporary School Without Running Water: Carlucci

Demanding that the state close down a school operating in Rockland County without running water, an acceptable fire hydrant or its own electricity, State Senator David Carlucci wrote to New York Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia Friday. He's concerned about reports that 400 students are going to school on a construction site in Ramapo. He's also angry that the state's watchdog who's supposed to be monitoring the actions of the Ramapo Building Department didn't stop it from issuing a certificate of temporary occupancy.

Here's the full text of his letter:

I am writing to express my concern over reports of unsafe conditions at temporary educational facilities
located on the Arteres Bais Yaakov Academy construction site in the Village of Hempstead. These reports are deeply concerning to me. The State Education Department must take immediate action to close the temporary facilities until they are in compliance with the state and local law.

It has been reported that seventeen trailers have been set up to house as many as four hundred students during the Academy’s construction. These facilities have been operating without safe drinking water, electricity, or proper plumbing. Despite these dangerous conditions, the state monitor put in place by the Department of State to oversee the Town of Ramapo Building Department, did not stop the issuance of a certificate of temporary occupancy.

These reports are troubling and must be addressed promptly. We cannot stand by and allow children to be
exposed to such conditions. The State Education Department must ensure the safety and wellbeing of all
children during school. The Department must address issues when claims of unsafe and uninhabitable
conditions at school arise. Anything less is a failure to our children.

I ask that the Education Department investigate this site immediately, and shut down any educational
operations at this site if violations exist. It is imperative that these children be kept out of harm’s way and
conditions on the site be brought into compliance with all applicable laws.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day will join other local officials at 2 p.m. Monday to announce the results of the latest inspection of the school, located at 200 Summit Park Road, and other issues related to code enforcement. They'll be speaking at the Hillcrest Fire Station, 374 N. Main St., Spring Valley.

The school has been the subject of typical Ramapo maneuevering for a while. A village trustee voted for its construction while working for a member of the school's board of directors, according to The Journal News.

Image via google maps

SEE ALSO:

• Ramapo Planning Director Indicted
  
• Building Director Altered Permits, Pocketed Fees, DA Alleges
  
• Rockland County Executive Draws a Line in the Sand in Ramapo