Authorizes the commissioner of education to appoint a state monitor to oversee the East Ramapo central school district and establishes the powers and duties of the state monitor.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5355A
SPONSOR: Jaffee (MS) TITLE OF BILL: An act authorizing the commissioner of education to
appoint a state monitor to oversee the East Ramapo central school
district and establishing the powers and duties of the state monitor;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would appoint a state monitor to the East Ramapo Central
School District within sixty days following the effective date of this
act.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Provides definitions.
Section 2. Requires the Commissioner of Education to appoint a state
monitor for the East Ramapo School District, who will serve at the plea-
sure of the commissioner;
Section 3. Describes the powers of the state monitor which include but
are not limited to proposing of resolutions and overriding decisions by
the board or superintendent if deemed necessary for the educational
welfare of the students attending the district and/or the fiscal stabil-
ity of the district;
Section 4. Describes the duties of the state monitor duties which
include but are not limited to submission of a five year strategic plan
for the district, attend all board meetings including executive session,
supervise the fiscal and operational management and submit annual
reports and updates;
Section 5. Describes the appeal process for state monitor decisions for
the school board, they may appeal by petition to the commissioner in
accordance with section three hundred eleven of the education law;
Section 6. Authorizes the commissioner to promulgate regulations and
immediately take such other actions as necessary to implement the
provisions of this act;
Section 7. Sets forth the time period of the appointment - a period of
at least five years and the commissioner, in consultation with the Board
of Regents, shall have the authority to extend the appointment for an
additional period of time in intervals of one to five years, as deter-
mined by the commissioner
JUSTIFICATION:
On June 10, 2014 the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Education
appointed a Fiscal Monitor to the East Ramapo Central School District
located in Rockland County, New York to review the District's fiscal
practices, conduct and history. Following a 4 'A month investigation
which included interviews with District officials, teachers, students,
PTA leaders, community stakeholders, clergy and many others as well as
tours of the public and private schools, observation of classes, review
of District records along with other documents a report was submitted to
the New York Board of Regents and State Education Department on November
18, 2014. The Fiscal Monitor's report titled, "East Ramapo: A School
District in Crisis," made six recommendations. This legislation
addresses the first recommendation which stated, "Reform district's
governance structure to provide necessary check and balance to the board
and superintendent that protects public school students. At a minimum,
there must be a vehicle to override, in real time, unreasonable deci-
sions by the board and Superintendent and ensure that the District
conducts its affairs in a transparent fashion." This legislation will do
just that, by bringing together the entire East Ramapo Community to work
towards a long term solution that will address the unique needs within
the school district, as well as providing important oversight.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is new legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate
