Statement of Unity - Call to Action
We are diverse group of Ossining residents who support high quality education for all students.
We want students to be able to continue their educations with dignity and respect, and a minimum of disruption, consistent with the Ossining school district rules and New York state law.
We want students to be able to continue their educations with dignity and respect, and a minimum of disruption, consistent with the Ossining school district rules and New York state law.
All students who are in the Ossining School District were originally required to show proof of residency upon entering the schools, and they have a legal right to continue their education in Ossining if their family still lives here.
As with any bureaucratic process that involves mailing out information -- and interpreting and applying complex rules -- the Ossining residency re-registration process will take some time.
Many families may not understand the need to reconfirm their residency status, or understand the proofs of residency that are required. We want to make sure they get the support they need to understand and participate in the re-registration process, and negotiate any changes that may be needed to make it work more fairly.
We are concerned about inflammatory statements that seek to prejudge the results of this process, and inspire fear and suspicion of the actions of other parents and community members, even before the process has been allowed to run its course.
The Ossining Board of Education and administration must enforce the rules fairly, and protect the civil rights of all students and parents.
Students and families are entitled to due process. They have a legal right to receive fair notice from the district if a determination is made about their residency status, and they have a legal right to appeal that decision if they do not agree with it.
Whatever decisions are made, we want the school district to act fairly and compassionately, recognizing that students may be harmed by disruptive changes that interrupt their education in the middle of a school term.
Finally, we are strong supporters of cultural and economic diversity in Ossining. We call on all elected officials, community leaders and residents to embrace the values of tolerance, respect and diversity. Students, parents, teachers and others, especially immigrants and new residents, have a right to participate in a school system that is free of fear and intimidation.
With the exception of indigenous people, everyone in the U.S. comes from immigrant roots. We have come from many countries, traditions and cultures, but we are one community. We value and respect the cultural, economic and civic contributions of everyone who lives here. We need mutual understanding and cooperative, inclusive processes and solutions.
We are concerned about inflammatory statements that seek to prejudge the results of this process, and inspire fear and suspicion of the actions of other parents and community members, even before the process has been allowed to run its course.
The Ossining Board of Education and administration must enforce the rules fairly, and protect the civil rights of all students and parents.
Students and families are entitled to due process. They have a legal right to receive fair notice from the district if a determination is made about their residency status, and they have a legal right to appeal that decision if they do not agree with it.
Whatever decisions are made, we want the school district to act fairly and compassionately, recognizing that students may be harmed by disruptive changes that interrupt their education in the middle of a school term.
Finally, we are strong supporters of cultural and economic diversity in Ossining. We call on all elected officials, community leaders and residents to embrace the values of tolerance, respect and diversity. Students, parents, teachers and others, especially immigrants and new residents, have a right to participate in a school system that is free of fear and intimidation.
With the exception of indigenous people, everyone in the U.S. comes from immigrant roots. We have come from many countries, traditions and cultures, but we are one community. We value and respect the cultural, economic and civic contributions of everyone who lives here. We need mutual understanding and cooperative, inclusive processes and solutions.
Sincerely,
We Are Ossining – Somos Ossining
[list of Supporters in formation]
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