Reply To: School Board Monitors in Lakewood & East Ramapo

Joseph: I agree with your concept but I think using yeshiva students as pawns in the war with Public School Supporters is a bad idea.

As far as removing the School board due to reallocating funds from the classroom to legal defense. In order to remove the board the state must prove criminal intent and misuse of public funds. This is not the case as defending the board even against the state is considered a valid school expense. All it does is force the state to sue the board. The judge may order that the funds be returned to the classroom but will also have the plaintiff post a surety bond guaranteeing payment of legal expenses.

As far as not suing the school board or State. Federal law mandates that for special education the parent may sue in order to get legally entitled Special Ed. It also states if the parent wins the school board must pay the parent’s legal expenses. Also in East Ramapo it was the Public School Supports that sued the board. If you don’t want these law suits: “Don’t take Federal Funds” . The problem is that this means NY STATE can’t take federal funds for special ed. which will save the federal gov. billions. Where will the state find the funds?