More oversight may be coming to the East Ramapo School District.

A bill passed the state Legislature this week that will allow two state education-appointed monitors to overturn decisions made by the East Ramapo School District School Board if the monitors feel they violate state laws or regulations, or are not in line with the district's long-term goals.

Additionally, the two monitors will have better access to information.

Community members gathered with local state lawmakers at Martin Luther King center in Spring Valley to celebrate its passing.

The legislation was spearheaded by Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and state Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick.

Both officials pointed to recent events as to the importance of its passage; in 2020, the NAACP successfully won a lawsuit against the district for Voting Rights Act violations. And when learning went virtual because of the pandemic, the district did not have enough Chromebooks for all students.

"We need to make sure this oversight structure works. We need to make sure we are continuing to look in every corner of this school district for any and every solution that we can find to better the educational opportunity of these kids," Zebrowski said.

"We need state oversight to guarantee the kids who attend the public schools are getting the services they need, are getting the education they need," said Reichlin-Melnick.

The legislation now heads to the governor's desk. If signed, it would be in effect until June 30, 2025.