New York Lawmakers Struggle To Agree On East Ramapo School District Oversight Plan
EAST RAMAPO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Lawmakers are having trouble agreeing on an oversight plan for the East Ramapo School District.
As WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported, the question is how much power should a state monitor have in the troubled district?
An Assembly bill calls for strict oversight, including the ability to override the board's poor decisions.
Senate Republicans oppose veto power, they don't want to usurp local control, Adams reported.
Assembly woman Ellen Jaffee said a strong monitor is needed because a state audit found the Orthodox Jewish majority on the board showed favoritism to Yeshiva students.
"While they were cutting all the programs in the public schools, they were not cutting anything and they were actually increasing funding for the private schools and that's something we had great concern about," Jaffee said.
The state audit found no ill intent, but determined the school board has not been fair and that a state monitor is needed.
Talks continue in Albany.