Legislator Wieder Offered Comments at Legislature Calling on Our Elected Officials in Albany to Work Harder on an Equitable Formula Change for East Ramapo Schools

From the Rockland County Legislature:

New City, NY (June 6th, 2013) – Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder spoke at the June 4, 2013 Rockland County Legislative meeting about the inequities in the state funding formula for the East Ramapo Central School District.

“The Rockland County government has no jurisdiction over the K-12 public schools, but is under the auspices of state government,” said Legislator Wieder, “so it behooved me to reach out to our representatives in Albany to work harder towards solving the issues facing our children and their future by changing the faulty state funding formula for East Ramapo."

"Under the current formula, East Ramapo is considered among the wealthiest school districts in Rockland County. It makes no sense,” added Legislator Wieder, “that the East Ramapo Central School District and the Clarkstown Central School District are both classified as wealthy school districts, when many of the county’s neediest families reside in East Ramapo. The faulty formula affects the quality of public education in East Ramapo and must be remedied to prevent further deterioration.”

Legislator Wieder (District 13, which is in the East Ramapo Central School District) is concerned about the untenable situation in the district and the draconian budget cuts that have been affecting and will continue to affect our students and their families for years to come, which is why he is in favor of the upcoming Budget initiative.

“Our children are our future,” said Legislator Wieder, “and we must not sit silently when available remedies are possible from our state representatives. This is true for our school district and for our local government, but the students of the public schools of East Ramapo need Albany’s assistance now more than ever.” Legislator Wieder also serves on the Environmental, Government Operations, and Economic Development Committees in the County Legislature, along with serving on the Solid Waste Authority.