Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) joined Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder and Agudath Israel of America COO Rabbi Yosef Chaim Golding at the county’s legislative chambers on Thursday to address a report issued by a state panel on the East Ramapo Central School District.

“There is nothing more important to me than education. Without it, we don’t have a future. The same children attending these schools will be our future leaders one day,” said Hikind.

At the press conference, Wieder announced his resignation as majority leader saying, “Some have turned my position as majority leader and strong advocacy to protect the constitutional rights and the civil liberties of the Orthodox Jewish community here in Rockland County a distraction for the work of the county legislature and the Democratic Caucus.”

The Board of Regents appointed a three-member panel of monitors headed by former NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, which released a report earlier this week with 19 proposals. One of the proposals recommends pursuing legislative action that would give the monitors increased authority, including veto power over the elected school board.

“It pains me to say this, but he stabbed this entire community in the back. There were real concrete changes being made, with people sitting down from both sides and exchanging dialogue. It’s worse now than before and is an absolute betrayal of everything we stand for in America,” said Hikind.

Hikind, who encouraged the community’s support for Walcott when he was appointed as a monitor for the East Ramapo Central School District, talked about his good working relationship with Walcott while he was a former education chancellor as well as during his tenure as a deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration.

The assemblyman reiterated that, “I remain committed to protecting the rights of all children in East Ramapo, and look forward to addressing this issue with my colleagues in the legislative session. We need to work together for the sake of the children. I will not give up.”

Hikind’s remarks can be viewed below:

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