[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6124348,"mediaKeyId","2685553-a3240af66c997603e7085ef93c3732fa","parentId",2685553,"title","East Ramapo board approves consent and action items, authorizes appeal of arbitration decision","audioSeconds",1820,"startMs",9456000,"endMs",11276000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685553-a3240af66c997603e7085ef93c3732fa&start=9456&end=11276","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685553-a3240af66c997603e7085ef93c3732fa/thumbnail_9456000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124348/New-York/East-Ramapo-board-approves-consent-and-action-items-authorizes-appeal-of-arbitration-decision","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124348-85202eadb6e1161b9e1b4f143d9f50dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110657&Signature=RfwO9ll4HyiO9RLXjvbLtfNeuh9XBA8slprGKtqgUCA97vRQGf0GDPS6~dW4qNJYZbVo0Ek~JNAp4s4u~YqnNHBqQymNtvlvljlMIXknn5rIv976rg4Mxwd9M2F~GwwZkAZ-6uTvlx80gPz7VVs~1fDfOUrPC7cH29YGBVB398NF~2cv7ON31qcwPvf7StBeeeOIUvPT3v6APMoLJ-DeIK6edh7baw1XYMw1zy3qCU2UxXCMFV7nph7781AytzNzNqPvI5PAWLJiuqPbqfju2Vu1p-WJudv6p8yFTl8NYKrV5GEywkxfSsLjZBubfx6GAtvD9CBOVmdyHVXMmeC05g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-07T14:41:47Z","article","The East Ramapo Central School District Board of Education approved routine consent items and a block of action items during Tuesday's meeting and later authorized the district to file an appeal in Rockland County Supreme Court in a pending arbitration matter.

The board first approved consent agenda items 1 through 9 on a motion from Mr. Feder, seconded by Mr. Moses Copp; trustees recorded the motion as carried. The board then approved action items 1 through 25 on a motion by Mr. Weismandel and a second from Vice President McGill. During discussion of item 17 (a services contract), district counsel and staff noted the vendor had requested an intellectual-property clause and may submit an amendment for the board to review later.

Late in the meeting, during executive-session follow-up, trustees moved to authorize legal action: a motion to file an appeal in Rockland Supreme Court to challenge an arbitration decision (case number A2023-332) was made by Mr. Weismandel, seconded by Mr. Gruber and recorded as carried.

Why it matters: the appeal advances a formal dispute into the court system and will be handled by district counsel; the contract amendment referenced in open session indicates the vendor and the district could return to the board with modified language.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (items 1'09): Approved. Motion: Mr. Feder; Second: Mr. Moses Copp.
- Action items (items 1'025): Approved. Motion: Mr. Weismandel; Second: Vice President McGill. Item 17 flagged for imminent vendor amendment.
- Legal appeal (arbitration A2023-332): Approved. Motion: Mr. Weismandel; Second: Mr. Gruber.

Board procedure notes
Meeting minutes record the motions and seconds but do not list full roll-call tallies in the transcript excerpt; minutes indicate items carried. Administration staff said a vendor for item 17 proposed a last-minute contract insertion related to intellectual property and planned an amendment that may return to the board at a subsequent meeting.

Ending
The board completed the regular agenda, then entered executive session for personnel and legal matters. The appeal authorization moves the arbitration dispute into the court process; the board will receive updates from legal counsel as the case proceeds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ERCSD - BOE Meeting 03-18-25 @ Chestnut Ridge MS","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved consent items and action items and voted to authorize a legal appeal in Rockland Supreme Court in arbitration matter A2023-332; a contract on the agenda (item 17) was noted as likely to be amended later.","taxTitle","East Ramapo Central School District (Spring Valley), School Districts, New York","taxId",14412,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6124353,"Parents and students press East Ramapo board on food, schools and staffing shortages",1296,1975000,3271000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685553-a3240af66c997603e7085ef93c3732fa&start=1975&end=3271","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685553-a3240af66c997603e7085ef93c3732fa/thumbnail_1975000.jpg","/articles/6124353/New-York/Parents-and-students-press-East-Ramapo-board-on-food-schools-and-staffing-shortages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124353-16f50d5737c3a5fa3dfe1fc87deeeac2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110657&Signature=A6btWc-Bhk-tyMDkgYdj-NUSjActTAhSIG58FX4~3Zoj2SD9OLGrqa4wWTr2AV53ykQqrfyx5oyde1BIUhxbKzx54ZUNjTh3Ad9Oe7x~Tg8Q71tPqmYSANSAafkEJrE-Dxm1578hRgTYREAz4EFAhVx4sJYs3axRYSiOIa-fZVViIB9GPcTndatuz8aIPVjibSBakD3643ONBUz2NmcbOc9IkZ~b9hUiYE98994zUtZKHx8MXgjdi0LHbqWLep2t1zP47fQc5wY7AYtFtY4UMNCeoyWywAfIOQRMjmVOnxB4MA1dtQ-2tdpEt90bPpPBrnuTNZ95B1K7SEF9M1-k8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents and students used the public-comment period to press the East Ramapo Central School District board for improvements to school food, building conditions, transportation safety and staffing shortages.

Several student speakers from Spring Valley High School told the board they face limited electives, old or damaged sports equipment, weak communication about activities and, repeatedly, unappetizing school food. “Most of the time students are blamed for not doing so well in their school activities or in their school classes. But you gotta realize most of that comes from the environment that they are in and the environment that they are seated in given the food,” said Bruce Grama, a tenth grader at Spring Valley High School.

Parents and guardians also raised concerns. A parent who identified herself as president of the Association of Marching Band Parents urged clearer communications about discipline policies and asked the district to consider holding some events at Spring Valley High School to ease travel costs for families. A different speaker called attention to fees and taxi costs for some families traveling to district events and urged simpler directions in Spanish and other languages. The board announced interpretive headsets would be provided at tonight's meeting for Spanish-speaking parents.

On school food, students and parents said meals are often unpalatable or insufficient. “They don't have anything to go off of. And in my opinion, that's a major problem because these kids are your future,” Bruce Grama told the board. The superintendent said the budget includes money for cafeteria renovations and that the district plans to hire an outside food-service consultant to review menus, compliance and student input. The district noted federal U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition rules limit menu options but said a consultant will help redesign menus within those rules.

Public safety and staffing concerns
A resident urged immediate action on school-bus safety, reporting buses that travel faster than posted limits and students standing on buses. “If this is allowed to continue on public roads ... then there will be more injured students or dead students,” the speaker said, calling for the district to ensure contractors maintain safe driving practices. Transportation staff told the board they are expanding safety oversight and proposed adding two route-safety inspectors and other staffing to improve daily checks and communications with families.

Several speakers called for more teachers and electives. Tenth-grader Jamila Zamadano said Spring Valley High School lacks enough teachers and class options (for example, anatomy for health-care pathways) and urged the board to continue the administration's recent hiring push. The human-resources presentation later in the meeting laid out three job-fair dates and said the district has roughly 200–250 vacancies to fill across teaching, bilingual/ELL, paraprofessional and clerical roles.

Board and administration response
Superintendent DeCarlo repeatedly acknowledged the complaints and said the administration's proposed budget aims to make ","Multiple parents and high-school students used public comment to press the board for better cafeteria food, improved facilities and more teachers; the superintendent said the proposed budget addresses many of those concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6124358,"East Ramapo unveils budget plan backed by $16 million in state aid, seeks to hold tax levy flat while adding staff and repairs",5900,3302000,9202000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685553-a3240af66c997603e7085ef93c3732fa&start=3302&end=9202","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685553-a3240af66c997603e7085ef93c3732fa/thumbnail_3302000.jpg","/articles/6124358/New-York/East-Ramapo-unveils-budget-plan-backed-by-16-million-in-state-aid-seeks-to-hold-tax-levy-flat-while-adding-staff-and-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124358-36914a02ca6fda7ac82998f1e9321dd6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110657&Signature=bKjPVXG4y31WLJkRMqL5ZN2cG1nx-E0EQYJYItaRX2T37~CcIhpJSToK9RuwOwMGvLebFu9UQorPV5IfkMo4-pzdi7hK8AjuIQPNt9CnbZ5udsUseAyvf7pvzDILigU-JvRMcxXaNaKIXx6Ln8kAGcl4LVn3rtMc-LBd2-CxSH5jCxQmvOvILX7sjVAPiVl3zjUkbT4TQU4l1xWmRVQMU7vIdhv53BvL0duHIHFUQE84or~gHpgsJ8KEybEc2SuD2QkR6flZEOgkfftRK9~U2tDj2h9IB-lyW-RaKDvE5Cg7toR7J~oMmDaUqcQUZEFmWFayZAGSm2hYUyx71hwzAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent DeCarlo and district budget staff on Tuesday presented a 2025–26 executive budget that counts on an estimated $16 million in additional New York State aid and proposes holding the local tax levy flat while adding staff and capital repairs.

The plan, the administration said, would double down on fine and performing arts, expand athletics spending, fund targeted facilities repairs and add manpower in transportation and clerical functions to improve day-to-day operations and student services. “We need to do what we need to do for our students now. We cannot wait any longer,” Superintendent DeCarlo told the board.

Why it matters: the district has faced repeated public complaints about cafeteria food, building conditions and staff shortages. The superintendent framed the budget as a multi-year start: “Tonight, we are presenting a budget that's not just for this year, but for years to come,” he said, adding that many changes depend on voter approval of the budget.

Key elements
- Revenue: Chief budget presenter Mr. Stark said the draft relies on an increase in state aid (presented to the board as about $16,000,000) and that the administration is proposing no increase in the tax levy for 2025–26. “We are able to fund the revenue side with keeping the tax levy flat, so not increasing the tax levy from the prior year,” Mr. Stark said.
- Fine and performing arts: Michael Smith and district staff described restored investment after a decade of cuts. The district reported growth in participation in state music programs (from 35 students in earlier years to several hundred recently) and requested catch-up funding for equipment, uniforms, stage lighting and instrument repairs. The presentation showed a multi-year restoration that included a one-time larger infusion (a figure cited as about $930,000 in cumulative catch-up funding over time) to restore programs and equipment.
- Athletics: The budget would add roughly $350,000 (presented as a 33% increase year-over-year for athletics in 2025–26) to replenish equipment and uniforms, fund a new dance studio and install bleachers at Spring Valley High School. Athletic participation was reported to have risen from about 931 students to more than 1,200 across seasons.
- Facilities and capital priorities: administrators said about $5–5.5 million in capital work is proposed for district-wide repairs if the budget passes. Items singled out included boiler replacements at Limekiln and Eldorado, chiller repairs, expanded classroom air conditioning, paving and drainage work, and expanded custodial and grounds equipment. The administration emphasized prioritizing health-and-safety items from the district building-condition survey.
- Transportation and staffing: Transportation director Miss Givens outlined staffing additions: the district is proposing two additional route-safety inspectors (added to a current single inspector), four additional clerical staff, and two coordinators to improve routing, parent communications and operational hours. The presentation listed current transport figures of about 10,323 public-school riders and roughly 32,320 nonpublic riders, with a projection that nonpublic ridership could rise to about 33,820 in 2025–26.
- Hiring initiative: Human-resources staff said the district is pursuing a large hiring push to fill roughly 200–250 vacancies across teaching, bilingual/ELL, paraprofessional and clerical roles. The recruitment plan includes three job fairs set for April 5 (10 a.m.–3 p.m.), April 9 (4–6 p.m.) and May 8 (4–6 p.m.) at the central office; outreach to local colleges; and the creation of hiring committees and temporary assistants to process large applicant volumes.

Board context and next steps
The administration repeatedly cautioned that many of the capital and staffing items hinge on passage of the 2025–26 budget. Administration staff also said a contingent budget (if voters reject the proposed budget) would prohibit the use of fund balance dollars for capital work. Mr. Stark said he would provide the board with actual revenue figures from the current year at a follow-up meeting and reiterated that some revenue lines had been adjusted downward where prior budgets had assumed carryover income that did not materialize.

Ending
The board will consider the budget and supporting materials at upcoming meetings and will present a final proposal to voters; the administration said additional detail on ARPA-obligated projects and what remains to be addressed will be provided to the board on request.","Superintendent DeCarlo presented a 2025–26 executive budget that relies on an increase in state aid, proposes no tax-levy increase, and funds investments in arts, athletics, facilities and transportation staff while targeting more than 200 vacancies for hiring.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

East Ramapo board approves consent and action items, authorizes appeal of arbitration decision

Parents and students press East Ramapo board on food, schools and staffing shortages

East Ramapo unveils budget plan backed by $16 million in state aid, seeks to hold tax levy flat while adding staff and repairs