Required Notifications

Dignity for ALL Students Act (DASA)

The East Ramapo Central School District will not tolerate incidents of discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, or bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function by students and/or school employees.

The Dignity Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012. Amendments to the act are effective as of July 1, 2013. 

The original legislation amended State Education Law by creating a new Article 2 – Dignity for All Students.  The Dignity Act also amended Section 801-a of New York State Education Law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes. The Dignity Act further amended Section 2801 of the Education Law by requiring Boards of Education to include language addressing The Dignity Act in their codes of conduct.

Additionally, under the Dignity Act, schools will be responsible for collecting and reporting data regarding material incidents of discrimination and harassment.

In compliance with Education Law §13(3), at least one staff member at every school must be thoroughly trained in human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex. This staff member should be referred to as the Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC).  

District Dignity Act Coordinator: Dr. Augustina West

Dignity Act Building Coordinator Responsibilities:

• Supporting the staff in deciding if the incident falls under the DASA law
• Helping the staff, parent, student to fill out the DASA form
• Collaborating with the Principal, Assistant Principal, and School Counselors to conduct investigations and create interventions for the alleged victim and offender
• Track the DASA related incidents on a DASA spreadsheet
• DASA Report forms should be kept in a DASA binder, alphabetized by the alleged victim  

Dignity Act School Building Coordinators

Building	Coordinator	Contact Info
Eldorado	Principal Fitzgerald Georges   Jenny Slomiany, Cindy Mercado, Celia Burgos-Social Worker, Francis Madera-School Psychologist	fgeorges@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6150
Elmwood	Principal Pamela D'Apice-White Ann Vergine, Stephanie Ayala, Mark Goracy, Yelitza Reyes	pdapice@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6160
Fleetwood	Principal Carolyn Fields Joanne Louis, Laura DeSimone, Kayla Stimmel	cfields@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6170
Grandview	Principal Patricia Smith Dr. Greg Donnis, Katelyn Senise, Krysten Sosa	psmith@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6260
Hempstead	Principal Hazel Ortiz Lyza Granata, Beatriz Munoz, Angela Lepore	haortiz@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6270
Kakiat	Principal Jennifer Wilmoth Amma Brown, Jessica Cintron, Douglas Doller, Lisa Barone	jwilmoth@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6100
Lime Kiln	Principal Laura Dobson Diana Kelly, Maria Petrella, Eric Quail, Bill Ryan	ldobson@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6280
Margetts	Principal Jacqueline Polanco Dr. Marie-Carmel Durandisse, Yelitza Reyes, Sarita Thomas	jpolanco@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6190
Summit Park	Principal Marissa Cavellero Raisha Sanford, Raquel Nieves, Dr. Sara Trinchitella	mcavellero@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6290
ECC	Principal Tiffane Barrow Johnny Vasquez	tbarrow@ercsd.org p: 845-577-6585
Chestnut Ridge MS	Principal Bernidette Grant Yolanda Gardner, Jennifer Gutzeit, Lily Nunez-Payano	bgrant@ercsd.org p: 845-577-6300
Pomona MS	Principal Taren Washington-Peterson Jonathan Bravo, Tanya Brightly, Barbara Jean, Miracrys Ruiz, Caroline Boules	twashingtonpeterson@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6200
Ramapo HS	Principal Michael Phillips Dr. Robin Lewitas, LaThell Sebastian-Smith, Karissa Sullivan	mphillips@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6400
Spring Valley HS	Principal Karen Pinel Dr. Dionne Olamiju, Dr. Monifa Tippit	kpinel@ercsd.org p: (845) 577-6500

DASA Links

New York State Department of Education
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/

NYSED Online Training for Educators on Recognizing and Preventing Cyberbullying
https://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/cyberbully/

The Crown Act
http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/student-support-services/understanding-crown-act.pdf

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, allows schools to disclose student directory information to selected government agencies without written parental consent unless parents/guardians have advised the school district to the contrary (“opt-out” forms). Directory information that may be published may include a student’s name, grade, awards, activities, photograph, etc. Further, these rules will implement Education Law Section 2-d and provide guidance to educational agencies and their third-party contractors on ways to strengthen data privacy and security to protect student data and annual professional performance review data. If you wish to “opt-out” and not permit your child’s photo and/or directory information to be used in district newsletters, media releases, and the district website, please complete the form on the back of this letter and return it to your child’s building principal no later than ten days after receipt of this letter. 

FERPA Letter - In Three Languages
7 pages, with detailed information  
FERPA Opt-Out Form - ENGLISH     ESPANOL    KREYOL 

NYSED Parents’ Bill of Rights

8635-E Parents Bill of Rights and Supplemental Documents

NYSED Parents Bill of Rights for New York State's English Language Learners & Multilingual Learners