If you ask the union leadership about the tax credit they would say, “Public school children are funded inadequately and any money that goes towards helping tuition paying parents is diverting money that could go to public schools,” said Felder. “That’s hogwash,” Felder countered.
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East Ramapo Controversy
Earlier this month Assembly Speaker Heastie met privately with a large contingent of Jewish lawmakers in his Capitol office to discuss the Rockland County-based East Ramapo School District oversight bill and the financial crisis facing the school district.
Sponsors of the measure propose the overseer will have the ability to override the actions of the board and the superintendent if the monitor deems it necessary for the educational welfare of the students and the sponsors maintain the state monitor ensures a strategic academic and fiscal improvement plan for a five-year period. Opponents maintain it is wrong to install an unelected state monitor to oversee the school board made up of elected members from the town and it sets a dangerous precedent. Debate over the measure has been tabled until at least May.
East Ramapo is governed by a nine-member Board of Education elected by the community, each for a term of three years. The 14 public schools serve 9,000 students, mostly minorities. Approximately 20,000 students attend private schools, mostly yeshivas or Jewish day schools, where seven of the nine board members send their children. The Board is responsible for providing and promoting a budget, levying taxes, setting educational policy, and meeting all requirements of state law.
Tilles Reelected to Regents Board
Roger Tilles of Great Neck, Nassau County, was reelected to a third five-year term on the New York State Board of Regents. The only other Jewish members on the 17-member board are Charles Bendit and Merryl Tisch, the chancellor of the education policy-making panel.
Moving On
Jeff Leb of Cedarhurst, Nassau County, is now the managing director of government and external relations for the UJA-Federation of New York. He was previously employed as the New York director of political affairs for the Orthodox Union.
Simcha Eichenstein of Boro Park is now a policy adviser for intergovernmental affairs in the office of the mayor of New York City. He recently left his high-level executive post with the New York State comptroller’s office.