Steve Lieberman

slieberm@lohud.com

A state watchdog who could override East Ramapo school board decisions would disenfranchise voters, Orthodox Jewish leaders said after the release of fiscal monitor Hank Greenberg's critical report on the district this week.

Greenberg's watchdog would challenge the community's right to elect board members who defend their pocketbooks and support special-education financing and busing for non-public school children, they said.

"The United States is a democratic country which is ruled by law," said Kalman Weber of Monsey, who heads the South East Ramapo Taxpayers Association, a fiscally conservative Ultra Orthodox group. "So taking away the rights of the people goes against democracy."

Greenberg criticized the school board — which is controlled by Orthodox and Hasidic men — for slashing public school programs and staffing while spending money to benefit private-school students, most of whom attend yeshivas.

Weber said the board spends money for programs mandated for private schools, including special education services, busing and books. The district has sued the state Department of Education to defend its practice of sending Orthodox and Hasidic students to private, religious special-education programs when less restrictive alternatives are available.

Weber agreed with Greenberg's recommendation that the state provide an influx of money to East Ramapo. That, he said, would ease tensions and address educational issues across the board.

"East Ramapo is considered rich on paper," Weber said. "The (state-aid) formula is working against the district and doesn't take non-public school students into the equation, and that's a loss of millions of dollars. East Ramapo is being shortchanged."

Greenberg wants a state watchdog to oversee the use of any additional state money sent to the district.

"There is an urgent moral and political obligation to improve the East Ramapo public schools — that must be beyond debate," said attorney Ryan Karben, a former state assemblyman and Rockland County legislator who grew up in the Orthodox community and went to East Ramapo schools. "It is deeply disturbing to consider letting an unelected bureaucrat set aside the results of a budget vote or a school board election because Albany doesn't like the outcome."

More money or veto power over the school board won't solve all the problems in a community contending with a cultural canyon, said East Ramapo taxpayer Mendel Mendelovits, who has two sons in private schools.

"About three quarters of all school kids in Ramapo go to private schools and the number will only increase over the next 10 years," the Airmont resident said. "Overworked parents who pay school tax on top of tuitions may appreciate extra funding the district receives, but this won't stop the continued property-tax increase, nor will it ease the tensions with those who oppose the school board."

East Ramapo has nearly 9,000 public school students, many of them black and Hispanic — and poor — and an estimated 24,000 private school students.

One community leader suggested Albany clean its own house before casting an eye toward East Ramapo.

"It was interesting to me that the state Legislature, where many have been arrested, want to override a duly-elected board that are doing the best under very difficult circumstances," said Benny Polatseck of Spring Valley. "I suggest an oversight monitor for the state Legislature first. In the end, we have to look out for all the children."

Another wondered if a watchdog would impose an agenda supporting opponents of the school board.

Would he or she overrule spending cuts that would force higher taxes, "deny Hasidic special-needs kids access to an environment of their liking when the costs are the same, or block the district from defending itself against lawsuits and reviews," asked Yossi Gestetner, who provides public relations for Hasidic communities.

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