State monitor Dennis Walcott sat on the dais with the board and listened attentively as a large number of public school students, parents and activists complained about the district schools and the board. When Spanish speakers got up to speak, Walcott put on headphones to hear a simultaneous translation. But board members, almost all haredim, did not.
As Spanish-Speaking Parents And Students Speak, Haredi-Controlled School Board Doesn’t Listen To Simultaneous Translation
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Dennis Walcott, the new state-appointed (but almost completely toothless) monitor for the scandal-plagued haredi-controlled East Ramapo school district, participated in his first board of education meeting Tuesday night, the Journal News reported.
Walcott sat on the dais with the board and listened attentively as a large number of public school students, parents and activists complained about the district schools and the board.
When Spanish speakers got up to speak, Walcott put on headphones to hear a simultaneous translation.
But board members did not, and when the large audience realized the primarily haredi board wasn’t listening to the translations or paying attention, the audience began shouting, “They don’t care!”
More than 200 people chanted and yelled encouragement as various public school community members spoke. Many carried signs supporting a bill that would allow the state to appoint a monitor with actual veto power over board decisions, something Walcott does not have.
Walcott apparently made no public comment about the board’s mistreatment of the Spanish speakers.
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