DePrisco Campaign Insider Newsletter - August 3, 2016
Read the DePrisco Campaign Insider Newsletter written by Tom DePrisco, candidate for the 38th Senate District in New York for August 3, 2016.
Read the DePrisco Campaign Insider Newsletter written by Tom DePrisco, candidate for the 38th Senate District in New York for August 3, 2016.
Providing quality education is extremely important and vital. Recently, I discussed the need for Albany to restore and increase the education aid that was promised but not delivered. Our school districts rely on a steady, equitable, and sustainable source of state funding in order to plan, provide, and maintain academic programs. The ten school districts in the 38th senatorial district are owed over $80 million in education foundation aid over the past six years, since David Carlucci has been the state senator. Education funding is the #1 budget line item in the NYS budget. Our children are our futures. I am presently researching and reviewing the existing methods used in determining state education aid for school districts. I have questions regarding the equitable distribution of education aid and will report shortly.
Preservation of our communities continues to be a major concern of so many people I meet. Thankfully, the NYS Department of State has informed the Town of Ramapo that they have not been administering or enforcing the state’s minimum standards regarding certain fire prevention and building codes. Specifically, the state has issues with how Ramapo conducts inspections, issues building permits, issues permanent or temporary certificates of occupancy, and granting variances or waivers for zoning and fire codes.
I will continue my advocacy for a change in NYS Education Law which would mandate that all private schools be held to the same strict fire safety inspection standards that public school are held to.
I attended a CUPON (Citizens United to Preserve our Neighborhood) – Chestnut Ridge meeting this week. I discussed my experiences with attempted blockbusting in Brooklyn twenty years ago and how to fight it now. I applaud the many grass root community groups that have formed over the past year with the goal of preserving their communities.
Last Wednesday evening at the NYC Department of Education’s Panel for Educational Policy meeting in Chinatown, I made a statement imploring the need to amend NYS Education Law to ensure that nonpublic schools are truly afforded substantially equivalent educations as their public school counterparts. Existing law does not mandate the instruction of math, science, and world history in nonpublic high schools. I was moved by the numerous and passionate statements made by members of YAFFED (Young Advocates for Fair Education). Many of these speakers were former Yeshiva students. I had a number of thoughtful conversations with meeting attendees after the meeting. In fact, I received an email from one of the NYC Mayoral Appointees to the Department of Education Panel for Public Policy wishing to discuss my recommendation. I personally wrote to Board of Regents Chancellor Rosa and NYS Education Commissioner Elia regarding my recommendation.
Last week, it was reported that the East Ramapo School District and Board of Education made an “administrative error” resulting in forcing a recently and lawfully elected board of education member, Sabrina Charles-Pierre to only be allowed to serve one year of her term of office, instead of two years. I conducted a thorough review of years of East Ramapo BOE meeting minutes and discovered reasons why I do not believe that this “administrative error” should have occurred. I posted this helpful information and sincerely hope that common sense prevails and Ms. Charles-Pierre is allowed to serve her two-year term.
Finally, Lorraine and I had another opportunity to spend quality family time with our grandchildren and young adults in our lives. Family is so very important to us. I sincerely hope that all of my hard work and dedication will pay off…not for me…but for our children and grandchildren of our communities.
If you would have any questions, or would like to get more involved in the campaign, you can do so by contacting me here.
-Tom
Preservation of our communities continues to be a major concern of so many people I meet. Thankfully, the NYS Department of State has informed the Town of Ramapo that they have not been administering or enforcing the state’s minimum standards regarding certain fire prevention and building codes. Specifically, the state has issues with how Ramapo conducts inspections, issues building permits, issues permanent or temporary certificates of occupancy, and granting variances or waivers for zoning and fire codes.
I will continue my advocacy for a change in NYS Education Law which would mandate that all private schools be held to the same strict fire safety inspection standards that public school are held to.
I attended a CUPON (Citizens United to Preserve our Neighborhood) – Chestnut Ridge meeting this week. I discussed my experiences with attempted blockbusting in Brooklyn twenty years ago and how to fight it now. I applaud the many grass root community groups that have formed over the past year with the goal of preserving their communities.
Last Wednesday evening at the NYC Department of Education’s Panel for Educational Policy meeting in Chinatown, I made a statement imploring the need to amend NYS Education Law to ensure that nonpublic schools are truly afforded substantially equivalent educations as their public school counterparts. Existing law does not mandate the instruction of math, science, and world history in nonpublic high schools. I was moved by the numerous and passionate statements made by members of YAFFED (Young Advocates for Fair Education). Many of these speakers were former Yeshiva students. I had a number of thoughtful conversations with meeting attendees after the meeting. In fact, I received an email from one of the NYC Mayoral Appointees to the Department of Education Panel for Public Policy wishing to discuss my recommendation. I personally wrote to Board of Regents Chancellor Rosa and NYS Education Commissioner Elia regarding my recommendation.
Last week, it was reported that the East Ramapo School District and Board of Education made an “administrative error” resulting in forcing a recently and lawfully elected board of education member, Sabrina Charles-Pierre to only be allowed to serve one year of her term of office, instead of two years. I conducted a thorough review of years of East Ramapo BOE meeting minutes and discovered reasons why I do not believe that this “administrative error” should have occurred. I posted this helpful information and sincerely hope that common sense prevails and Ms. Charles-Pierre is allowed to serve her two-year term.
Finally, Lorraine and I had another opportunity to spend quality family time with our grandchildren and young adults in our lives. Family is so very important to us. I sincerely hope that all of my hard work and dedication will pay off…not for me…but for our children and grandchildren of our communities.
If you would have any questions, or would like to get more involved in the campaign, you can do so by contacting me here.
-Tom
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