Fund for the East Ramapo Central School District
The East Ramapo Central School District in suburban Rockland County, forty miles north of New York City, was once home to thriving and diverse public schools that attracted families from surrounding areas. Today, after more than a decade of local malfeasance and mismanagement, and state dereliction, it is a beleaguered and broken district.
It has become an extreme example of systemic racism and educational inequity. Some issues include facility mismanagement which led to the closing of one of the two major high schools in the district for three months due to asbestos and black mold, and the cutting of extracurricular programs for students.
Over the past few months, the NYCLU has had on the ground presence in East Ramapo through participating in coalition meetings, holding dialogue and workshops with community members, and creating a youth activism program for East Ramapo high school students.
The East Ramapo Central School District in suburban Rockland County, forty miles north of New York City, was once home to thriving and diverse public schools that attracted families from surrounding areas. Today, after more than a decade of local malfeasance and mismanagement, and state dereliction, it is a beleaguered and broken district.
It has become an extreme example of systemic racism and educational inequity. Some issues include facility mismanagement which led to the closing of one of the two major high schools in the district for three months due to asbestos and black mold, and the cutting of extracurricular programs for students.
Over the past few months, the NYCLU has had on the ground presence in East Ramapo through participating in coalition meetings, holding dialogue and workshops with community members, and creating a youth activism program for East Ramapo high school students.