Reply To: East Ramapo School Monitor

Less Chumras

” can you confirm the following? A. Does the board conduct closed meetings? B. Did the board attempt to sell/lease a school building at below market rate to a yeshiva?”

A) I am not a member of the Board so I can’t confirm whether they have closed meeting. I assume they do because the monitors are only allowed to attend them with the board’s permission. If the meetings were open to the public why would they need an invitation?

B) Back in 2010 the Board sold a school building to a yeshiva based on an appraisal made by and outside appraiser. The Attorney General investigated the sale and the sale was voided and the yeshiva had to raise the purchase price in order to complete the sale. The only one charged in this case was the appraiser who they gave a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to not revealing that he previously appraised the property for a higher amount. As far as I know the yeshiva is still using the building but I don’t know if the state approved the sale. All I do know is no one else has been charged. In New York State you can indict a “Ham Sandwich” because all you need is probable cause. The problem is that in order to convict you need to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt which is a lot harder.

Also to charge them(the board) with anything they have to charge them within the statute of limitation which can run from 1-3 years depending on the charge. I would assume the prosecutor who was the monitor last year was aware of this and if he had any criminal evidence he would have brought charges.