Continuous Improvement
Office of Accountability
State Monitors
New York State Law requires the Commissioner of Education to appoint monitors to the East Ramapo Central School District (ERCSD), Hempstead Union Free School District (HUFSD), Rochester City School District (RCSD) and Wyandanch Union Free School District (WUFSD). All monitors are consultants to these districts, which are responsible for paying the salaries of the monitors as well as for the reasonable and necessary costs of a monitor’s work.
In general, the monitors have responsibility for fiscal oversight of the districts, and in the case of the ERCSD, the HUFSD, and the RCSD, the monitors are also responsible for academic oversight.
Monitors for the ERCSD, the HUFSD, and the WUFSD worked with the boards of their districts to develop proposed financial plans for the 2020–2021 school year and the four subsequent school years. In HUFSD and RCSD the monitors also developed academic plans for the same time period. These plans were required to be approved by the Commissioner and are updated annually.
In the case of the ERCSD, the monitors worked with the board of education to develop a long-term strategic academic and fiscal improvement plan, which was approved by the Commissioner and is revised annually.
Among the responsibilities of the monitors for each district are to:
- Serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the board of education.
- Assist the board in adopting a conflict of interest policy that ensures board members and administrators act in the district’s best interest.
- Ensure that the budget is balanced and consistent with the district’s long-term financial plan.
- Provide semiannual reports on the academic, fiscal, and operational status of the district, except for the WUFSD, where the report is limited to fiscal and operational issues.
- Assist in resolving any disputes and conflicts between the superintendent and the board and among members of the board.
- Disapprove travel outside the State paid for by the district;
- Recommend cost saving measures including, but not limited to, shared service agreements; and
- Notify the commissioner and board in writing regarding violations of the academic or financial plan.
The ERCSD monitors have the additional authority to:
- Override proposed or adopted resolutions or submit resolutions for adoption by the board of education in the event that the district is in violation of law or regulation or taking actions inconsistent with the approved long-term strategic academic and fiscal improvement plan.
- Approve or disapprove the appointment of a superintendent.
- Mandate that board of education members, the superintendent, and/or other school district officers undergo up to 15 hours of training per year.
The monitors currently assigned by the Commissioner to these districts are as follows:
District |
Monitor(s) |
East Ramapo CSD | Mr. Bruce Singer and Ms. Mary Fox-Alter |
Hempstead UFSD | Dr. William Johnson |
Rochester CSD | Dr. Shelley Jallow |
Wyandanch UFSD | Mr. Albert Chase |
For more information on State Monitors, please e-mail us at State.Monitors@nysed.gov.
East Ramapo CSD
Hempstead UFSD
Rochester CSD
Wyandanch UFSD
Summary
On June 30, 2016, the Governor signed into law Chapter 89 of the Laws of 2016, which, among other things, continued the appointment of up to three monitors for the East Ramapo Central School District (ERCSD). Subsequently, additional laws were enacted that continued to authorize State Monitor oversight of ERCSD’s fiscal and budgetary planning. On June 29, 2021, the Governor signed into law Chapter 173 of the Laws of 2021, which expanded the powers and duties of the monitors as well as the responsibilities of the District in regard to cooperating with the monitors.
The above legislation established the powers and duties of State Monitors. The current monitors are Mr. Bruce Singer, who was appointed by the Commissioner on March 5, 2020, and Mary Fox-Alter, who was appointed by the Commissioner on April 5, 2022. Both monitors are contracted employees whose reasonable and necessary expenses are paid by the school district. Mr. Singer’s and Ms. Fox-Alter's responsibilities include:
- Working with the Board of Education to develop a long-term strategic academic and fiscal improvement plan that shall be updated annually by October 1;
- Approving or disapproving the appointment of a superintendent;
- Overriding proposed or adopted resolutions or submitting a resolution for adoption by the Board of Education in those instances where the school district is operating in violation of law or regulation or inconsistently with the long-term strategic academic and fiscal improvement plan;
- Mandating that Board of Education members, the superintendent, and/or other school district officers undergo up to 15 hours of training per year;
- Providing semi-annual reports to the Commissioner, the Board of Regents, the Governor and Legislature on the academic, fiscal, and operational status of the district, which includes all the contracts that the district enters throughout the year;
- Reviewing annually the proposed district budget to ensure that it is balanced and, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the district’s approved long-term strategic academic and fiscal improvement plan;
- Assisting in resolving disputes and conflicts, including those between the superintendent and the Board of Education;
- Recommending cost-saving measures, including shared service agreements;
- Serving as an ex-officio member of the Board of Education who is entitled to attend all meetings of the Board of Education, including executive sessions, and to access any necessary documents and records of the district and
- Notifying the Board and Commissioner in writing regarding violations of the academic or financial plan.
Legislation (also see "Monitor Laws")
Appointment Letter/Press Release (see East Ramapo CSD Archive)
Public Hearings (see East Ramapo CSD Archive)
Five Year Academic and Fiscal Improvement Plans
- East Ramapo Central School District: 2020-2025 (Long-Term) Strategic Academic and Fiscal Plan Revised November 15, 2022 – Posted February 24, 2023
- Distrito Escolar Central de East Ramapo: Plan Estratégico Académico y Fiscal 2020-2025 (Largo Plazo) – Publicado el 24 de febrero de 2023
- East Ramapo Distri Lekòl Santral: 2020-2025 (Alontèm) Estratejik Akademik ak Plan Fiskal – Afiche 24 fevriye 2023
- East Ramapo Central School District: 2020-2025 (Long-Term) Strategic Academic and Fiscal Plan October 27, 2021 (Posted 3/30/2022)
- Revised 2020-2025 Strategic Academic and Fiscal Plan – Approved and adopted by the East Ramapo Central School District Board of Education on November 16, 2021
- Plan académico y fiscal estratégico 2020-2025 revisado – aprobado y adoptado por la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Central de East Ramapo el 16 de noviembre de 2021
- Plan Estratejik Akademik ak Fiskal revize 2020-2025 – Konsèy Edikasyon East Ramapo Central School District te apwouve epi adopte le 16 novanm 2021.
- State Monitor Final Financial Plan
- Fiscal Smart Plan Supplement
- Five Year Fiscal Plan Projections 2021 to 2025
- Plan Académico Estratégico 2020-2025 ¡Comprometidos con el éxito Apéndice Diciembre de 2020
- Plan Akademik Estratejik 2020-2025 N ap pike devan e menm pi lwen toujou pou siksè elèv yo! Adendòm Desanm 2020
- East Ramapo Central School District 2020-2025 Strategic Academic Plan Addendum December 2020
Links to Regents Presentations
Annual and Quarterly Reports
- 2021-22 Annual Report: Part I: Annual Report PowerPoint Presentation – Posted February 24, 2023
- Informe Anual 2021-2022: Presentación de PowerPoint – Publicado el 24 de febrero de 2023
- Rapò Anyèl 2021-2022 PowerPoint Prezantasyon – Afiche 24 fevriye 2023
- 2021-22 Annual Report: Part II: Implementation Status of Academic and Fiscal Plan Recommendations – Posted February 24, 2023
- Informe anual 2021-22: Parte II: Estado de Implementación de las Recomendaciones del Plan Académico y Fiscal – Publicado el 24 de febrero de 2023
- Rapò Anyèl 2021-22: Pati II: Estati Aplikasyon Rekòmandasyon Plan Akademik ak Fiskal Yo – Afiche 24 fevriye 2023
- 2021-22 Annual Report: Part III: Status of East Ramapo Central School District 2021-22 Measurable Objectives – Posted February 17, 2023
- Informe anual 2021-22: Parte III: Estado del distrito escolar central de East Ramapo Objetivos medibles 2021-22 – Publicado el 17 de febrero de 2023
- Rapò Anyèl 2021-22: Pati III: Sitiyasyon East Ramapo Central School District 2021-22 Objektif Mezirab – Afiche 17 fevriye 2023
- East Ramapo CSD Strategic Academic and Fiscal Plan Quarterly Report for July 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021 – January 21, 2022
- Distrito Escolar Central de Ramapo Oriental Informe Trimestral del Plan Estratégico Académico y Fiscal del 1 de julio de 2021 al 30 de septiembre de 2021– 21 de enero de 2022
- Distri Santral East Ramapo Central Estratejik akademik ak fiskal plan chak trimès rapo pou 1ye jiyè 2021 jiska 30 septanm 2021– 21 janvye 2022
- East Ramapo CSD Strategic Academic Plan Quarterly Report and Continuation Plan for October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 – June 1, 2021
- Plan académico estratégico del Distrito Escolar de East Ramapo Central: ya está disponible el Reporte trimestral y Plan de continuación para el segundo trimestre (octubre a diciembre de 2020) –1 de junio de 2021
- Plan Akademik Estratejik Distri Lekòl Santral East Ramapo: Rapò Chak Trimès ak Plan Kontinyasyon pou 2yèm Trimès la (Oktòb 2020 - Desanm 2020) – 1 jen 2021
- Report on the East Ramapo Central School District: 2019-20 – Released May 2021
- Informe sobre el East Ramapo Central School District: 2019-20 – Publicado en mayo de 2021
- Rapò sou Lekòl Distri Santral East Ramapo: 2019-20 – Pibliye me 2021
- Continuing Progress: A Report on the East Ramapo Central School District for the 2018-2019 School Year – October 2020
Monitors Semi-Annual Report
- East Ramapo CSD Semi-Annual Monitor Webinar for Period from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022 – Posted May 3, 2023
- East Ramapo CSD Semi-Annual Monitor Report Contracts List for 2020–2021 – Posted May 3, 2023
State Monitor Budget Review
- Commissioner’s Letter on Proposed 2022–23 school year budget – April 27, 2022
- State Monitor Findings for 2022–23 Proposed Budget – April 4, 2022
- Hallazgos del Monitor Estatal para el Presupuesto Propuesto 2022–23 – 4 de abril de 2022
- Konklizyon Siveyans Eta a pou Bidjè Pwopoze 2022–23 – 4 avril 2022
- Letter to East Ramapo CSD Board of Education President from NYSED – May 7, 2021
- Budget Approval Letter to Bruce Singer, East Ramapo CSD Monitor, from NYSED – May 7, 2021
- 2021-22 East Ramapo School District Budget Analysis and Recommendations
- 2021-22 East Ramapo CSD Budget Analysis
- 2021-22 East Ramapo CSD Line by Line Budget Analysis
- East Ramapo Central School District Projected 2021-2022 Budget
East Ramapo CSD Archive
Summary
Chapter 19 of the laws of 2020, enacted on February 3, 2020, authorizes the Commissioner of Education to appoint a State Monitor to oversee the fiscal and academic operations of the Hempstead Union Free School District (HUFSD).
The above legislation established the powers and duties of the State Monitor. On June 4, 2020, Dr. William Johnson was appointed to this position by the Commissioner. Dr. Johnson’s responsibilities include:
- Working with the HUFSD’s Board of Education to develop a five-year financial plan and a five-year academic improvement plan;
- Providing semi-annual reports to the Commissioner, the Board of Regents, the Governor and Legislature on the academic, fiscal, and operational status of the district, which includes all the contracts that the district enters throughout the year;
- Reviewing annually the proposed district budget to ensure that it is balanced and, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the district’s approved academic improvement and financial plans;
- Assisting in resolving disputes and conflicts, including those between the superintendent and the Board of Education;
- Recommending cost-saving measures, including shared service agreements;
- Serving as an ex-officio member of the Board of Education who is entitled to attend all meetings of the Board of Education, including executive sessions, and to access any necessary documents and records of the district and
- Notifying the Board and Commissioner in writing regarding violations of the academic or financial plan.
Legislation (also see "Monitor Laws")
Appointment Letter/Press Release (see Archive below)
Reports for School Year 2021-2022
- District Quarterly Reports
- Hempstead UFSD Quarterly Report of Monitor Financial Recommendations October 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 (Posted 10/14/2022)
- Hempstead UFSD Academic Quarterly Report October 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 (Posted 10/14/2022)
- Hempstead UFSD Third Quarterly Report May 15, 2022 – District Responses to SED Comments (Posted 10/14/2022)
- Monitor's Semi-Annual Reports
- Hempstead UFSD Mid-Year Monitor Update Report – This academic and financial report covers the time period of July 1, 2021 through January 31, 2022 (Posted 10/14/2022)
Reports for School Year 2020-2021
- District Quarterly Reports
- Hempstead UFSD Final Academic Quarterly Report July 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 (Posted 2/14/2022)
- Hempstead UFSD Final Fiscal Quarterly Report July 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 (Posted 2/14/2022)
- Hempstead UFSD Academic Quarterly Progress Benchmark Report – Submitted 5/15/2021
- Hempstead UFSD Fiscal Quarterly Progress Benchmark Report – Submitted 5/15/2021
- Hempstead UFSD Academic Quarterly Progress Benchmark Report – Submitted 2/15/2021
- Hempstead UFSD Fiscal Quarterly Progress Benchmark Report – Submitted 2/15/2021
- Monitor's Semi-Annual Reports
- Hempstead UFSD Semi-Annual Cover Letter – December 1, 2021 (Posted 2/4/2022)
- Hempstead UFSD Semi-Annual Report - January 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021 (Posted 2/4/2022)
- Hempstead UFSD Mid-Year Report – This academic and financial report covers the time period of July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
- Hempstead UFSD Professional Services Expenditures School Years 2019-20 and 2020-21 – Submitted 3/2/2021
Public Hearings (see Archive)
Five Year Academic and Fiscal Improvement Plans
- Hempstead UFSD Annual Plan Update 2021-22 – November 1, 2021 (Posted 2/4/2022)
- Hempstead USFD Progress Benchmarks Academic Action Plan - June 30, 2021 (Posted 2/8/2022)
- Hempstead USFD Progress Benchmarks Financial Action Plan - June 30, 2021 (Posted 2/8/2022)
- Academic Plan (Fall 2020)
- Financial Plan (Fall 2020)
- Letter to the Commissioner - December 1, 2020
- Letter to Superintendent from the Commissioner - December 30, 2020
Links to Regents Presentations
Annual Reports
- 2021-22 Academic and Fiscal Improvement Plan Annual Update – November 1, 2021
Monitor’s Findings Pertaining to District Proposed Budget
- Hempstead 2022-23 Proposed Budget
- Hempstead 2021-22 Proposed Budget
ARCHIVE
Summary
Part C of Chapter 56 of the laws of 2020, enacted on April 4, 2020, authorizes the Commissioner of Education to appoint a State Monitor to oversee the fiscal and academic operations of the Rochester City School District (RCSD).
The above legislation established the powers and duties of the State Monitor. On May 21, 2020, Dr. Shelley Jallow was appointed to this position by the Commissioner. Dr. Jallow’s responsibilities include:
- Working with the RCSD’s Board of Education to develop a five-year financial plan and a five-year academic improvement plan;
- Providing semi-annual reports to the Commissioner, the Board of Regents, the Governor and Legislature on the academic, fiscal, and operational status of the district, which includes all the contracts that the district enters throughout the year;
- Reviewing annually the proposed district budget to ensure that it is balanced and, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the district’s approved academic improvement and financial plans;
- Assisting in resolving disputes and conflicts, including those between the superintendent and the Board of Education;
- Recommending cost-saving measures, including shared service agreements;
- Serving as an ex-officio member of the Board of Education who is entitled to attend all meetings of the Board of Education, including executive sessions, and to access any necessary documents and records of the district; and
- Notifying the Board and Commissioner in writing regarding violations of the financial plan.
Legislation (see "Monitor Laws")
Appointment Letter/Press Release (see Rochester CSD Archive)
Reports for School Year 2021-2022
1. Annual Reports
- Rochester CSD Academic and Financial Plan Progress Report – August 2022 – Posted May 3, 2023
- Rochester CSD Annual Plan Implementation Table for the 2021-2022 School Year – Posted May 3, 2023
- Rochester CSD Annual Report Appendix: Federal Relief Funding Plan – Posted May 3, 2023
- Rochester CSD Annual Report Appendix: Part 154 Corrective Action Plan – Posted May 3, 2023
- Rochester CSD Annual Report Appendix: Consent Decree Report – Posted May 3, 2023
2. Monitors Semi-Annual Report
- Rochester CSD Monitor Semi-Annual Report – September 26, 2022 – Posted May 3, 2023
- Rochester CSD Monitor Semi-Annual Report: List of Contracts Period from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022 – Posted May 3, 2023
Reports for School Year 2020-2021
1. Annual Reports
- Rochester CSD Annual Report - August 2021 (Posted 4/1/2022)
2. District Quarterly Reports
- Rochester CSD Quarterly Report on Implementation of State Monitor’s Academic Plan Recommendations – This report covers the time period of January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021
- Rochester CSD Quarterly Report on Implementation of State Monitor’s Academic Plan Recommendations – This report covers the time period of October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 (submitted 2/15/2021)
- Rochester CSD Quarterly Report on Implementation of State Monitor’s Financial Plan Recommendations – This report covers the time period of October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 (submitted 2/15/2021)
3. Monitors Semi-Annual Report
- Rochester CSD Monitor Academic Report (Posted 3/16/2022)
- Rochester CSD Contract January to June 2022 (Posted 3/16/2022)
- State Monitor Response to Annual Financial Report - Fall 2021 (Posted 2/4/2022)
- State Monitor Response to Quarterly Academic Plan Report for Rochester CSD – Submitted February 28, 2021
- State Monitor Response to Quarterly Financial Plan Report for Rochester CSD – Submitted February 28, 2021
- Rochester CSD Resolved Violations for Quarterly Academic Report
- Rochester CSD Contracts List – July 2020 through December 2021
Public Hearings (see Rochester CSD Archive)
Five Year Academic and Fiscal Improvement Plans
- 2022–2023 School Year Annual Update to Academic Improvement Plan December 2022 – Posted February 24, 2023
- 2022–2023 School Year Annual Update to Financial Plan December 2022 – Posted February 24, 2023
- RCSD Approved 2021-22 Academic Plan Update (Posted 4/7/2022)
- RCSD Approved 2021-22 Fiscal Plan Update (Posted 3/16/2022)
- Financial Plan and Academic Improvement Plan
- State Monitor Final Academic Plan
- State Monitor Final Financial Plan
- State Monitor Plan Approval Letter - December 2020
- State Monitor Letter to Commissioner - December 2020
Monitor’s Findings Pertaining to District Proposed Budget
- Rochester 2021-22 Proposed Budget
Links to Regents Presentations
Rochester CSD Archive
Summary
Chapter 18 of the laws of 2020, enacted on February 3, 2020, authorizes the Commissioner of Education to appoint a State Monitor to oversee the fiscal operations of the Wyandanch Union Free School District (WUFSD).
This act established the powers and duties of the State Monitor,. Mr. Albert Chase, who was appointed on April 23, 2020. Mr. Chase’s responsibilities include:
- Working with the WUFSD’s Board of Education to develop a five-year financial plan;
- Providing semi-annual reports to the Commissioner, the Board of Regents, the Governor and Legislature on the fiscal and operational status of the district, which includes all the contracts that the district enters throughout the year;
- Reviewing annually the proposed district budget to ensure that it is balanced and, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the district’s approved academic improvement and financial plans;
- Assisting in resolving disputes and conflicts, including those between the superintendent and the Board of Education;
- Recommending cost-saving measures, including shared service agreements;
- Serving as an ex-officio member of the Board of Education who is entitled to attend all meetings of the Board of Education, including executive sessions, and to access any necessary documents and records of the district;
- Notifying the Board and Commissioner in writing regarding violations of the financial plan; and
- Overseeing deficit financing included in legislation.
Legislation (also see "Monitor Laws")
Appointment Letter/Press Release (see Wyandanch UFSD Archive)
Reports for School Year 2021-2022
- Annual Reports
- Wyandanch UFSD 2021-2022 School Year Annual Report Part I – Posted February 24, 2023
- Wyandanch UFSD 2021-2022 School Year Annual Report Part II – Posted February 24, 2023
- Wyandanch UFSD 2021-2022 School Year Annual Report Cover Letter – Posted February 24, 2023
- Wyandanch UFSD 2021-2022 School Year Annual Report Attachments – Posted February 24, 2023
- Semi-Annual Reports
- Wyandanch UFSD 2021-2022 School Year Semi-Annual – January to June 2022 – Posted May 4, 2023
Reports for School Year 2020-2021
- Annual Reports
- Wyandanch UFSD Annual Report to Commissioner and Regents (Posted 3/16/2022)
- District Quarterly Reports
- Wyandanch UFSD Quarterly Report for July 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021 (Submitted March 2022)
- Wyandanch UFSD Quarterly Report for October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 (Submitted March 2022)
- Wyandanch UFSD Quarterly Report for January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 (Submitted May 14, 2021)
- Wyandanch UFSD Quarterly Report for July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
- Monitors Semi-Annual Report
- Semi-Annual Report of the Fiscal Monitor to the Wyandanch UFSD for the Period Ending December 31, 2021 (Submitted March 2022)
- Wyandanch Plan Update Cover Letter - December 16, 2021 (Posted 2/4/2022)
- Wyandanch Cover Letter for Semi Annual Report - January 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021 (Posted 2/4/2022)
- Semi-Annual Report of the Fiscal Monitor to the Wyandanch Union Free School District – January 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021 (Posted 2/4/2022)
- Cover letter for Semi-Annual Report of the Fiscal Monitor for the Wyandanch UFSD – Submitted March 1, 2021
- Overview of Semi-Annual Report of the Wyandanch UFSD Fiscal Monitor
- Wyandanch UFSD Quarterly Report for July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 with State Monitor's Responses
- Wyandanch UFSD Contracts – July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Public Hearings (see Wyandanch UFSD Archive)
Five Year Fiscal Improvement Plan
- Wyandanch UFSD 2022-2023 School Year Annual Update to Financial Plan – Posted February 24, 2023
- Wyandanch UFSD Approved 2021-22 Plan Update (Posted 2/14/2022)
- Fiscal Improvement Plan and Approval Plans
- State Monitor Plan Approval Letter - December 2020
- Cover Letter to Dr. Rosa - December 2020
- Monitors Final Report - November 2020
- Appendices to Final Report - November 2020
Monitor’s Findings Pertaining to District Proposed Budget
- Wyandanch UFSD 2022-23 Proposed Budget
- Wyandanch 2021-22 Proposed Budget