East Ramapo budget should be voted down

I think people who don’t live there shouldn’t tell people who do what they should do.

The people of East Ramapo want the State to bail them out. Therefore any votes in East Ramapo affect all New York State Taxpayers

Joseph, what chilull Hashem in YU are you talking about?

Public funding for private schools is like public funding for private parks.

Joseph evidently thinks it will be good for the Jews if the citizens of East Ramapo who must rely on the public schools get as little education as legally possible.

The problem in the East Ramapo school district is that a majority of voters prefer private schools – yeshivas in particular – over public schools, and do not get any direct benefit from school taxes. Hence the school board – which is elected by the majority of voters – proposes low levels of spending on public schools. This is understandable and lawful, but it creates a serious problem for the minority of East Ramapo residents who rely on public schools to educate their children.

There is no easy way out of this dilemma, but Joseph is not looking for one. We should consider funding public schools on a state-wide basis, not district-by-district, to eliminate the disparities between rich and poor districts, and lighten the tax burden on parents preferring private schools.

New York State gives money to all school districts . The formula is based on taxpayers and public school students.

East Ramapo wants the formula changed as they say its unfair to the district because most students there go to private schools and not public schools, so thats how they want the state to bail them out.

Joseph are you encouraging voter fraud? vote early and often?

Joseph, how come you and other private funding advocates are not makpid on all the other mandates. You’re quick to point to busing but ignore the mandated secular subjects that a good many yeshivas ignore as well. I would agree to private funding of any yeshiva that proved and documented that they taught the secular curriculum. If they don’t, why should taxpayers pay for them? Besides, you’d also then have to pay for Muslim midrassas also

I believe East Ramapo is the only school district in the country, let alone the state that has more students in Private schools than public schools, so any change of the state formula would only benefit this one district and would be a bailout even if that wasnt the intention.

if he state would give yeshivas the money then they would have the right to dictate terms on what can be taught. Without the money they have alot less control of what is the curriculum

State support of Public schools is a the law, State support of private schools is not. If you dont like the law then change it, but right now that is the current law

Joseph, a lack of additional funding only hurts the public school kids and not the private schools kids because of the corruption of the school board in East Ramapo.
You said earlier that secular education is not mandated, based on a Supreme Court ruling. Let’s assume that’s true. Funding can only be used for non-religious education. If secular subjects aren’t taught, only religious subjects, then why have busing? Busing is so that the kids can be educated. If they aren’t being educated (as defined by the laws, meaning secular subjects), then why should they have busing paid for?

DY, I meant public funding of private schools

CT so, how do the frum kids go to shul,family, friends or local park on Shabbos and Yom tov?
Joseph, State money is for the state curriculum, which I believe is mandated for all schools in NY. Even if you’re right, then don’t take the money. It’s not a free lunch. If the state we’re to grant your wish and put yeshivas on an equal footing with public schools, then the yeshivas would be subject to same requirements. Their budgets would have to be made public and be subject to voter approval. Gentiles and secular Jews would be allowed to be elected to yeshiva boards etc

“If you live in Williamsburg and you kids go to school in Borough Park, The city does not pay for school busing, It is more than 2 miles away

How come you are not talking about the safety of those students, and other than the b110 bus its not so easy to get from Williamsburg to Borough Park via Public transport , which is what NYC students do for the most part.

I know people who live in Far Rockaway and go to School in Brooklyn and the city does not pay busing, you are on your own.”

So what are you trying to say?

East Ramapo definitely pay for students who are transported out of the district.

And you can’t compare NYC top anywhere else in the states. The laws and regulations are different.

I wonder how many of the so called experts here, such as LC, ZD or anyone else has even bothered to look at the budget.

ZD was insistent that special education costs are much higher in ERCSD than anywhere else in the state.
WRONG. Attached to the budget is a copy of the statistics comparing the district to the state (this is report prepared by the NYSED). The average cost is $4,000 LOWER per student in the district than in state as a whole and in comparison to similar districts (NYS’ designation, not mine.)
The average cost per public school child is $2,000 HIGHER than the average in the state.

Total spent on special Education to private schools and out of district schools is approximately 7.99 million out of a total of $65 million spent for Special Education. About 12%. Hmmm. (When the private school population seems to outnumber the public school population by 3.5 – 1)
And that (7.99 M) is less than the amount spent on extracurricular non-mandated services specifically for the public schools. Such as art, music clubs and sports teams( Beyond mandated PE).

The laws of New York State apply the same in Monsey or Borough Park

What I havent seen mentioned here before is ER currently has one of the lowest school tax rates in the county. And according to one of the districts latest bulletins, ER private school students on average are receiving 2000 dollars in benefits per student. This includes money going toward busing, special ed., Title 1,2 ,3 etc..

“The laws of New York State apply the same in Monsey or Borough Park”

Wrong, again. The law specifically states that there are different rules for districts over a certain size. Which, applies to NYC and possibly Buffalo.

“private school students are getting over 55 million in benefits. ”

It wouldn’t be able to be overlooked if that were the case.

But it isn’t true. Where do you see that anywhere?

Joseph having one of the lowest tax rates is fine as long as you dont have to gut the public school programs to get there. Dont you think ER students deserve the same programs as their neighboring districts? I

nishtayng go the ER website and read the bulletin. This is the estimated money spent on the private school students for the upcoming school year. Of course you should also add any associated common charges for legal, accounting, clerical, building,etc.
Transportation 21m
Special Ed 12.6
Fed Idea .85
Title 1 11.8
Title 2 .3
Title 3 1.9
PREK 4.2
Books 2.2