A unified community educating the whole child
DASA - Dignity for All Students Act
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. Ronald Gonzalez
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
Eldorado
Coordinator: Principal Fitzgerald Georges
Assistant Principal Michael Rose
Contact Info: fgeorges@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6150
Elmwood
Coordinator: Principal Pamela D'Apice-White
Ann Vergine
Contact Info: pdapice@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6160
Fleetwood
Coordinator: Interim Principal Michael Phillips
Assistant Principal Erin Thunell
Contact Info: mphillips@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6170
Grandview
Coordinator: Principal Patricia Smith
Assistant Principal Katelyn Senise
Contact Info: psmith@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6260
Hempstead
Coordinator: Principal Hazel Ortiz
Assistant Principal Nicole Zurla
Contact Info: haortiz@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6270
Kakiat
Coordinator: Principal Jennifer Wilmoth
Assistant Principal Douglas Doller
Contact Info: jwilmoth@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6100
Lime Kiln
Coordinator: Principal Laura Dobson
Contact Info: ldobson@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6280
Margetts
Coordinator: Principal Laura DeSimone
Assistant Principal Sarita Thomas
Contact Info: ldesimone@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6190
Summit Park
Coordinator: Principal Barbara Abbey
Contact Info: babbey@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6290
ECC
Coordinator: Principal Bernidette Grant
Contact Info: bgrant@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6585
Chestnut Ridge MS
Coordinator: Principal Amma Owusu-Afriyie
Assistant Principal Yolanda Gardner
Contact Info: aowusuafriyie@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6300
Pomona MS
Coordinator: Principal Taren Washington-Peterson
Assistant Principal Dr. Barbara Jean
Contact Info: twashingtonpeterson@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6200
Ramapo HS
Coordinator: Principal Rhode Octobre-Cooper
Dr. Robin Lewitas
Contact Info: roctobrecooper@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6400
Spring Valley HS
Coordinator: Principal Frank Carlson
Assistant Principal Dr. Dionne Olamiju
Contact Info: fcarlson@ercsd.org, p: 845-577-6500