There were nearly 600 complaints of sexual misconduct at local schools in 2008.
That’s according to new data released by Special Commissioner Richard Condon, who investigates complaints against city Department of Education (DOE) employees.
“The category of sexual misconduct cases runs the gamut of sexual harassment remarks to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor,” Condon explained.
Brooklyn parents say just one accusation of misconduct is too many.
“There’s nothing more important than parents knowing that when their child is entrusted to a school that they are safe in every respect,” said Michael Benjamin, first vice president of District 22’s Community Education Council (CEC), a volunteer parents’ group advocating for schools in Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach and parts of Midwood, Flatbush and Sheepshead Bay.
“For any adult to take advantage of a child is so beyond the pale and so unconscionable that vigorous prosecution must follow and if charges are actually proven, severe penalties should be imposed to send a chilling message to any other prospective abusers,” Benjamin continued.
According to the data, which is posted on the commissioner’s Web site, www.nycsci.org, there were 595 sexual misconduct complaints made last year in New York City public schools. Of that number, 228 were investigated and completed.
And of that number, 105 were substantiated — that’s 46 percent.
Condon’s office did not have a borough by borough breakdown of complaints.
The percentage of substantiated sexual misconduct complaints has steadily increased each year from 2004 when it was 40 percent.
However, Condon warned that the figures could be deceiving.
“There has been no significant increase given the variety of sexual misconduct cases and over the years that I have been here, the substantiated rate has been as low as 40 percent to as high as 46 percent,” he told this paper.
Last year, Condon’s office investigated two sexual misconduct complaints in Brooklyn that earned headlines.
In October, a school aide working at I.S. 126 in Williamsburg was arrested for inappropriate behavior toward at least nine female students and one male student, including making sexual comments and touching the female students on their buttocks or breasts.
In May, a volunteer at P.S. 236 was arrested for sending lewd text messages to a 12-year-old boy.
Condon began a formal investigation after the boy’s mother visited P.S. 236 and showed the text messages to the assistant principal.
Parents say the incident does not reflect P.S. 236, located at 6302 Avenue U. They called it a “fluke, weird thing.”
