Another alternative is what just was done for Yonkers, which was just awarded $2 Billion in aid from the state. And that school district was in worse shape in every way, fiscally, scholastically and programmatically.
Its much easier politically to give money to fund public schools than to fund busing for Yeshivos, especially after the missteps from East Ramapo.
So for the critical pieces of the bill:
1: Monitors are now required by law, they are not going away.
2: Monitors will attend all board meetings, nothing will be private
3: The money goes directly to public school children, not a penny for Yeshivos or busing, and they only get the money to restore services 🙁
4: To get the money, the board needs to come up with a long term plan on how to break even
5: East Ramapo only gets the money when the Commissioner receives evidence of compliance
6: (The big one)
The board of education shall make adjustments to the proposed budget consistent with any recommendations made by the commissioner.
So the NY commissioner has veto power over the board of ed, with the added stick that if the board doesn’t follow through, they are breaking the law.
All in all, I understand why Hamodia is claiming a win for the Yeshivos (the monitors can’t veto, only recommend to the commissioner), but if you actually read it…..
P.S. It is certainly possible that Cuomo will veto the bill.
Mods – please allow the text only link to the bill language.