Clergy Group To Call For State Takeover Of Scandal-Plagued Haredi-Controlled School District

A new grassroots organization, the Rockland Clergy for Social Justice (RCSJ), is about to publicly call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to authorize "immediate fiscal and administrative oversight over the East Ramapo school district and revision of governance.”

File photo: Residents lash out at East Ramapo school board members

Clergy Group To Call For State Takeover Of Scandal-Plagued Haredi-Controlled School District
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

A new grassroots organization, the Rockland Clergy for Social Justice (RCSJ), is about to publicly call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to authorize "immediate fiscal and administrative oversight over the East Ramapo school district and revision of governance,” the Journal News reported.

The group is planning an event cosponsored by the Spring Valley NAACP that will be held on April 8. The RCSJ will issue the public call to Cuomo then. The event starts at noon at the First Baptist Church, 3 Hoyt St., Spring Valley.

“[We’re]striving for the rights and survival of East Ramapo public schools," Oscar Cohen of the Spring Valley NAACP said.

The scandal-plagued district has been run by a haredi-dominated board which has allegedly looted the district while illegally funneling money and resources to private haredi religious schools. Multiple state and federal probes into the district's handling of its finances are ongoing.

Among the many clergy scheduled to speak are Rabbi Adam Baldachin of the Montebello Jewish Center and Rabbi Ari Hart of Uri L’Tzedek and the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.

Comments

[rocky]

It's about time.

[Devorah]

Maybe Daniel Schwartz, the former school board President in the green suit, will finally be arrested if this organization is successful.

[RWisler]

I'm glad that Rockland County residents are finally waking up to the monster in their midst and demanding their equal rights under the law. I hope that politicians will sit up and take notice and stop pandering to the hareidim.

[David]

Yet another example of how the Charedim are causing grassroots antisemitism.

[FlatEarth]

Will not happen as long as our sack of shit governor Cuomo is in office.

Only help so far has been the feds.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Amazing that the great paragons of virtue that frequent failedmessiah have never heard of democracy... You know "democracy", the principle of majority rule....

Rockland has an elected school board, voted in by the majority of Rockland residents! They have the full right to run their district as they wish so long as they comply with State law regarding minimum public education. As long as they follow the law they cannot be removed! DEMOCRACY!!!! LEARN ABOUT IT! Its a pretty cool concept...

[yehudis]

They should have to take a literacy test.
When they run for the position the public isn't given any information about them.
Afterwards we find out they are slumlords who stick tenants in attics without heat, etc. They aren't high school graduates. They don't live in the county. They keep a law firm 9 months after they say they are cutting ties with them. They turn schools into camps. They hire someone to give a phony assessment on a school building that borders New Square. ETC. It's time for someone to do something.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Yehudis that is bullshit and you know it. There are no bars in the United States on Public Official qualifications. If they can be elected that means that the public wants them to serve for their interests. that's all that matters. Remember government for the people, by the people!

[dapper danny]

I used to laugh when I heard my grandparents say stuff like "a shonda fur de goyim".

Now I feel it in my core, reading about the East Ramapo School Board. I applaud the good citizens of Rockland County for fighting for their public schools, and salute Rabbis Baldachin and Hart for their stance.

[Carlos Danger]

As annoying and incompetent and even corrupt as this school board may be, the opposition to them is equally obnoxious and annoying. Cuomo is not going to do a thing against the school board. He knows how to count votes. And he knows the major knockers against the school board are collection of nut jobs.

[S M L]

@Alexander Hamilton:

Wake up. Democracy doesn't mean the majority gets to to whatever they bloody well feel like to the minority. If officials are elected they still must obey the law, comply with regulations and, you'd hope, if they are Jews of any decent sort - behave with honor. Your black hats in East Ramapo have flouted the law, trampled on minority rights, misappropriated and misdirected funds and brought shame on all Jews. If that's your idea of democracy I suggest you and yours decamp to some banana republic somewhere where that's normative behavior. To the extent that anyone's idea of what a Jew is is based on what they've seen in East Ramapo all decent Jews' reputations have been injured by Daniel Schwartz Esq and his cohorts.

[Alexander Hamilton]

@SML

You are spouting off. Even if everything you said was true there is still a democratic process that needs to happen. The DA would need to charge the person and only a trail would decide the issue. having the governor come in and unilaterally remove elected officials is undemocratic and illegal!!! That would be the definition of "tyranny" and entirely un-American!

And BTW not one accusation about the school board that you made has been proven or even alleged by a public entity. I'm still waiting for the DA or police to announce an arrest. This case is BS, made up by people who are upset that some black hatters are taking over their town. Well guess what, this is America and the poorest, most ignorant and ugliest fools have the same rights as the biggest richest WASP's!!! D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y!!!!!

[Alexander Hamilton]

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[Pearl of Wisdom]

Alexander Hamilton would not agree with the character parading under his name. "I think the first duty of society is justice" the real Alexander said.

Carlos Danger dude, no justice, no peace. If the BOE was doing the right thing, there would be no fight. Very simple, do the right thing.

Good for the clergy stepping up for the kids. It certainly took long enough. Btw, asking for oversight is not asking for removal of the BOE. You could put a whole new cast of characters on the BOE and as long as the shared vision of the players is the same, the same outcome would be expected. You are right about one thing, Cuomo is a coward and will not step up for the ERCSD kids. He had no problem going to bat for the Pinebush cries of anti semitism. He is disgusting, just like his daddy.

[Pearl of Wisdom]

Alex, there was an Appraiser who pled guilty to fraud regarding the appraisal of Hillcrest. Just waiting for sentencing. Be patient, there are so many agencies looking into a plethora of alleged improprieties and possible criminal issues. Be patient and watch for the investigations to be completed. Btw, it was a pesky public school parent who found and reported the Appraisal Fraud.

Do you think the appraiser did that fraud on his own? I sure don't. There are others involved. The only question is whether Schneiderman has the balls to look into this crime further and whether charges against those complicit will be filed or swept under the rug.

[yehudis]

Alex,
I doubt you live in the County. Rockland has more than one school district and fortunately only one of them is being run into the ground. There are qualifications to run for the school board in NYS. Next time google it before you run off your mouth. The kids in East Ramapo no longer have art and music classes which is mandated by the State. It's funny you use that name because he was killed in a duel with Burr.

[Barry]

Alexander Hamilton - It is not SML's lack of understanding of democracy you need worry about. Its those poor whom you despise and are denied the opportunity of learning what democracy is and embittered by Hareidi corruption you need to worry about. Who will teach them that the tiny gap in the high ghetto wall made by the rabbis is intended for passing in welfare checks rather then pumping in Zyklon B and will they want to listen?

[Alexander Hamilton]

As usual, all you get here on failedmessiah is anti-American hate. Everyone on that school board is an elected official, democratically elected by the people living in the school district. They ARE providing the minimum that is required by State law. The fact that agencies have to dig and dig to find anything on them is absolute proof that there is no obvious wrongdoing. If you are right "Pearl of Wisdom" then the guilty people will be arrested and removed from the school board and guess what? the people of the district will get to elect another person to represent them as they want to be represented! Remember one thing, the residents of East Ramapo want the school board to cut as much as possible and they will continue to want that no matter what. When you live in a democratic society you must accept what the majority wants, be it high taxes or low taxes, liberalism or libertarianism!!! That's the definition of democracy!!!

@Yehudis, Yes Alexander Hamilton was killed by Burr. All it proves is that there is always scumbags in every generation.....

[Alexander Hamilton]

“Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.”
― Alexander Hamilton

[Pearl of Wisdom]

Alex, I already stated that removing the school board will not solve the problem. Those removed would be replaced by the same scandalous, heartless people. You are wrong, the BOE is not providing mandated courses. The Administration has admitted that. Oversight is needed.

The fact that there are do many agencies investigating proves that there is a big underlying problem. It takes a lot of evidence to move these agencies to move. They won't act until all of the evidence is examined. We can be patient.

What I find the most disturbing is that you seem to think that it is perfectly acceptable to hurt the education of public school students. Doesn't morality enter into the discussion for you? Do you condone these actions? Is that what your religion teaches you? That reinforces every terrible stereotype going. Be careful, you reap what you sow.

[Alexander Hamilton]

This is not a morality issue, this is a public administration issue. I believe that the board in East Ramapo has the same right as the boards in other counties. Do what the voters want within the confines of the law. Just because they are Hasidim they owe nothing more than the law.

I do agree that they need to follow the law so if they are not providing the mandated courses then they should be forced to do so by SED. However, removing a publicly elected official is undemocratic and should never EVER be an option in the United States of America! For the people, by the people, always and forever!!!

[Pearl of Wisdom]

Alex, what a sad and profound statement. Thank G-D that most people in this Country do not share your opinion of what is acceptable. When people take an oath of office, they are installed by those who voted for them, but they are supposed to represent all of the community.

We will have to agree to disagree strongly. I would not want you making decisions that will impact the lives of poor minority students. Please do us all a favor and do not run for ERCSD. But you would surely fit right in with the ERCSD BOE scoundrels.

[Valhalla]

Is Alexander Hamilton Danny Boy?

[Pearl of Wisdom]

Valhalla, I was wondering the same thing. DBSesq usually tries to use words that makes him feel superior. No matter, they are of the same ilk anyway.

[S M L]

@AH:

I have a very solid grasp of what democracy is about. Removal of demonstrably corrupt officials is within the scope of authority of the Governor's office. Wrongdoing would need to be demonstrated before any such action would be taken. Don't try smoke-and-mirrors with me - it won't work.

"-I believe that the board in East Ramapo has the same right as the boards in other counties.

-Just because they are Hasidim they owe nothing more than the law."

Wrong and wrong. They have no RIGHTS other than as individual citizens. They have RESPONSIBILITIES as officials comprising an elected administrative body. it's the people of the district who have rights - all of them, including those black and brown ones the frumma have no regard for.

Hasidim hold themselves up as exemplars of Torah-directed holiness and rectitude so they have an obligation to act decently and with more than a semblance of morality WHETHER OR NOT the law demands that because they supposedly hold themselves answerable to a higher power than the secular authorities whom they despise.

"guess what, this is America and the poorest, most ignorant and ugliest fools have the same rights as the biggest richest WASP's!!!"

Swap "Hasidim" for WASPs and you'd be partly right. Even the poorest, most ignorant citizens have the same rights as the Hasidim who lord it over them in East Ramapo.

[percherondad]

My grandchildren were in yeshivas and are all now in public schools in E. Ramapo and despite all the theft and program cuts the public schools are light years ahead of the jewish schools in Monsey in terms of education, training, staffing. The schools are well run, and have given my grandkids a new and exciting understanding of what learning is supposed to be about... No hitting, no potching, no beatings, no sexual abuse, no bullying... Imagine what the shcools would be like if the freaks on the school board had not stolen the money designated for the public schools..

[Alexander Hamilton]

@sml

Let me reiterate. Every individual person in east ramapo has the right to decide how the district should be run WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW. Once you decide how you want the district run you go out and vote for a candidate that will do like you want. If the majority of citizens agree with you then the candidate will win and will run the district like you want him to. The elected official works for the people and needs to follow their dictates as expressed by their votes! That is democracy!!!! If you want things to change then convince the citizens of you district to vote for someone else. If you can't then you submit to the will of the people. Democracy! Democracy! Democracy! The single best way to govern...

[js36]

percherondad,
Though I'm glad to see that your grandchildren are happy in public school. I've very skeptical that your grandchildren were beat , sexually abused or potched and all you did was move them to public school. Some private schools may not have the best secular education but only the most extreme right wing schools would the teachers touch the kids. This is not the 1940's. It is no more common to have devient teacher who abuses kids in private schools that in public schools. Also, bullying is universal. It is not isolated to jewish private schools.

[MM]

Mr. Hamilton, where did you get the idea that officials who are elected because they represent the views of the majority can just do as they and the majority who elected them damn well please? Once upon a time in many parts of this country the majority was strongly opposed to black and white children attending the same schools, and their elected school boards expressed the will of the majority by administering two separate educational systems, one distinctly inferior to the other. In Brown vs. Board of Ed, the Supreme Court declared this practice unconstitutional and banned it, without regard to what the majority and their elected officials wanted. Although many refused to comply and expressed their refusal violently, the court ruling was enforced by military action as necessary. No matter what you think, simply being elected by a majority does not give an official carte blanche to run roughshod over the minority, even if the majority would dearly love to have that minority ground into the dirt.

And corrupt officeholders who participate in fraud, embezzlement, kickbacks, rigged contracts, and other such nefarious dealings are investigated, charged, convicted, removed from office, and incarcerated all the time. I spent 25 years in Louisiana, and I can reel off a whole list of incarcerated "official" crooks. If the East Ramapo School Board is violating the law as is alleged, the fact that they were elected to do just that by their Chassidic constituents does not absolve them from the consequences of their acts. Now if the other local officials who should be handling these allegations are not doing their jobs because they are beholden to the same Chassidic constituents, then it is up to officials from a higher level of government not so immediately beholden to investigate and to take appropriate steps based on the results of their investigations. And THAT is democracy.

[Alexander Hamilton]

@MM

Ah now we are getting somewhere. in the case of Brown v. Board the supreme court ruled that the law was unconstitutional. the constitution is the ONLY thing that overrides majority will. That's it! Even a despicable and hateful thing like racial inequality would be lawful if not for the constitution....

No one can argue that East Ramapo is enacting unconstitutional legislation or acting in an unconstitutional manner. The Board is trying to comply with the letter of the law regarding minimum requirements so they can lower taxes for their constituents who overwhelmingly support cuts. That is a legitimate use of majority rule and is the definition of democracy.

Regarding the alleged crimes, I fully agree that if they are proven in a court of law then the perpetrators should be punished and removed. However, until such crimes are proven, removing elected officials is a crime against democracy and a wanton misuse of power. Such actions undermine the very fabric of American democracy and should never happen. that is my only point.

P.S. the quality (or lack thereof) of the education in the school district is not do to theft or misuse of funds. The people of East Ramapo are determined to cut the costs of public schools in the district and will continue that quest within the confines of the law. The people of board are doing the will of the people as they should be, subject of course to the rule of law!

[Devorah]

"P.S. the quality (or lack thereof) of the education in the school district is not do to theft or misuse of funds. "

According to the state audit, you are wrong.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Devora, please see link below. No theft or misuse of funds mentioned there.

BTW the comptroller's office found similar issues in every school district they audited. Check out the audits on their website.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/july13/071913a.htm

[MM]

Mr. Hamilton, now I live (thankfully) far from Rockland County and have limited knowledge of what is going there--and no inside information, but I am under the impression that the supporters of public schooling are asking for oversight and investigation--which is not the same as removal. If there are allegations of wrongdoing by public officials of any sort, investigation of those allegations is appropriate, and if evidence of wrongdoing is found then corrective steps need to be taken including prosecution if the alleged wrongdoing is of a criminal nature, rather than merely incompetence. Only at that point does removal become a possibility. Of course, many officeholders resign before they are subject to removal.

My understanding, which admittedly is rather superficial, is that members of the East Ramapo community have raised questions about the way the B of E is running the school, questions which involve both financial issues and issues of curriculum and student services. Since the local officials who should be looking into these allegations to determine whether they have merit are not doing so, because they are beholden to the same voters who elected the school board, the aggrieved citizens are asking the governor's office to investigate matters, the governor not being nearly so indebted to the Chassidic voters in Rockland County as the local officials are. No one to my knowledge is suggesting removing anyone arbitrarily without due process.

None of this is anti-democratic.

[MM]

In a perhaps similar situation, shortly before Katrina the State of Louisiana took over the administration of the Orleans Parish school district. It did so after investigation revealed gross corruption, in which large sums of tax money were diverted from student education to the personal enrichment of school officials and their families, lovers, and friends. The local officials in Orleans Parish did nothing to curb this corruption because the political power structure in the parish had intertwining personal relationships with the school officials. Therefore, eventually the state stepped in, and there followed a whole perp walk of school officials right into penal institutions.

Somehow the idea got around the country that the state took over the schools in the chaos of the aftermath of Katrina and that the state's purpose was breaking the teachers' unions. Not true. The takeover happened before the flood, and the purpose was dealing with the aftermath of the gross corruption which had been uncovered. Now a consequence of the flood was that all the parish schools were closed due to severe damage, and the teachers were let go. That did indeed break the unions. When the schools were re-established, they were governed by a hodge-podge of entities: the state retained control of some, others were publically funded, privately run charters, and a mere handful remained under the Orleans Parish School Board. By and large the experienced pre-Katrina teachers weren't re-hired, and they were replaced by Teach for America personnel, recent and well intentioned graduates of elite universities who had no training or experience in teaching students of any sort, never mind inner city kids. Some see the current state of affairs as a significant improvement over what went before, and others do not, but I have heard no one say that the removal of the greedy and corrupt elected school board was a breach of democracy. After all, the state officials were also democratically elected. Being elected does not give one a license to steal without consequences, and if such graft and corruption exist, it is not anti-democratic to put a stop to it.