“Lawmakers and the school district on Tuesday said the sides are in agreement to pass the bill introduced late Monday that would find a legislative remedy for the troubled district after years of stalemate.
“After almost two years of contentious debate, this bill represents hope for the East Ramapo school district,” said Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, D-New City. He said the measure offers “hope for meaningful oversight, restored opportunities and a future where both sides can come together for the best interests of the kids.”
The measure is a last-ditch effort at the Capitol to get more aid for the Rockland County school district and get state intervention over the district’s finances. The legislative session is set to end Thursday, and the bill narrowly made it in late Monday to give it three days to age before it can be voted on Thursday.
The bill calls for the state education commission to appoint three monitors to provide “oversight, guidance and technical assistance related to the educational and fiscal policies, practices, programs and decisions of the East Ramapo central school district.”
The district already has a team of state monitors involved in the schools’ operation, and last year it recommended legislation to provide greater state oversight of the district.
The one-year deal calls for $3 million in state aid for the district in exchange for the school board submitting its budget to the state education commissioner for approval. The commissioner would have the authority to make changes to the budget, as well as give approval to any decision by the district to sell property or make capital improvements.
The district would also have to develop “a long-term strategic, academic and fiscal improvement plan” within six months.”
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