The East Ramapo School Board in Rockland County has been at the center of a political controversy for more than a decade, but that may soon change.  Since 2005, elected board has been dominated by Orthodox Jewish members whose children attend private yeshivas. Meanwhile, it has steadily cut funding to local public schools, which are mostly composed of black and Latino students, while increasing funding to private schools.

But a new ruling by a federal judge could dramatically change the board by altering how it is elected.

Currently, the East Ramapo school board is elected using an at-large method, meaning anyone in the district could vote for all the members. But Tuesday morning, U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel ordered the district to change to a ward system, which would restrict residents to voting only for board members representing their districts.

Journal News investigative reporter Thomas Zambito has been covering the case. He told WNYC's Jami Floyd that the ruling is the end result of years of tension in the community.

"Graduation rates have plummeted, school district budgets had more and more money has gone to transporting private school students to yeshivas while teachers were laid off, music programs were cut, honors courses were cut," Zambito said. "So there was a lot of pent-up frustration that was brought into this case."

For the full conversation, click "Listen."