It has been reported that on Thursday March 26th, 2009 a male 8th grader from Isaac E. Young Middle School, was pushed from behind as he walked away as well as slapped in the face several times by a female Security Guard at the school. The incident occurred on the top floor of the middle school, sometime after 10:30 AM. It all occurred in a main hallway, in the presence of other students. We understand that the boy was interviewed extensively by the Isaac E. Young Middle School Administration regarding the incident. We also understand that some video is available on the school camera security system and that a police complaint has been filed by the parent.
In an interview with the parent and child, we were told the following:
The boy claims he was in front of his locker on the third floor when the female Security Guard approached him. She accused the boy of throwing crayons. The boy denied it and encouraged the Security Guard to check the security cameras. Some words were exchanged and the boy began to walk away. As the boy attempted to walk away, the Security Guard pushed him on his shoulder from behind. The boy responded with “don’t push me, don’t touch me.” This is when the Security Guard repeatedly smacked the boy on the left side of the face while he continually attempted to walk away. By the images taken it was clear that the Security Guard’s nails broke the child’s skin. Immediately after the incident the boy went to Mr. Jose Martinez, Administrative Dean at Isaac E. Young. Shortly after, Mr. Martinez was called to Mrs. Tawanda Robinson’s office, the Assistant Principal at Isaac E. Young Middle School. Sometime after, the boy reported to Mrs. Robinson’s office and was interviewed. After the interview, the child was sent to the nurse and provided with ice for his injuries. In the nurse’s office, the parent was contacted. The mother arrived at the school moments later. After a conversation between the school administration and the parent, the student was sent to the In-House Suspension room for the remainder of the day.
At some point after the incident, the boy was directed to go to his teachers and get work so that he could complete it in the In-House Suspension room. While in the hallway, the boy was confronted by a male Security Guard in an apparent attempt to intimidate. The Security Guard questioned the child about what his mother had told the school administration. The parent lodged a complaint with Mr. Martinez, about this second Security Guard approaching her son in a threatening manner and Mr. Martinez reported this to Mr. Anthony Bongo, Principal of Isaac E. Young Middle School. After, Mr. Martinez communicated to the parent that the school had contacted the New Rochelle Police Department regarding the complaint against this second Security Guard and that the police had “spoken” to the male Security Guard. The parent has no confirmation that the police was actually contacted on this second matter.
We are told that the slap left marks and scratches on the left side of the child’s face. Images we obtained taken on Saturday March 28th, 2009 (two days after the incident) still showed some faded bruises and a scab on the left side of the face just below the sideburn.
The parent filed a complaint with the New Rochelle Police Department. The Police took pictures of the child’s face. She was also asked if she wanted to press charges. The parent declined at that moment, but has not yet made a final decision. Prior to leaving the Police Station, the parent was encouraged by the police officer to contact detectives regarding the issue.
Below is a scanned copy of the blue card given by the New Rochelle Police Department after a person files a complaint. It provides the individual with an incident number so that they may request a copy of the incident report.
NRPDEV16285.pdf
There are so many questions we have about this incident:
How could this be happening in our schools?
Why is a second Security Guard confronting and questioning the child?
The nurse saw the child, provided the boy with ice to alleviate his injuries and it was communicated that the injuries were inflicted by an adult in the building. Why didn’t the school contact the authorities? If the injuries (redness, scratches, possible swelling) were inflicted by the child’s parent, it would have been the duty of every mandated reporter in the school to contact Child Protective Services.
If this kid was expelled as
If this kid was expelled as he should have been numerous time before…we wouldn’t even be discussing this….The New Rochelle school system is corrupt and broken.
the New Rochelle system is
the New Rochelle system is not corrupt and broken
Gee whiz… You are
Gee whiz… You are brutal!!!
I am a supporter of this
I am a supporter of this site who has posted numerous times. In this case I believe Bob has dragged his feet with the follow-up story that the police, after reviewing the security tape, have decided not to charge the security guard and the parents are not pressing charges at this time. While the report of this incident shocked me the delay in updating the story is worrisome. The school district and indeed the board are large targets and rightfully so but in the end the truth must prevail. While you hit one out of the park with MacMenamin’s you struck out with the incomplete coverage of this story!!!!!!!
Always up to someone else to
Always up to someone else to report and take the bull by the horns. Always someone else’s job. Update the story yourself, since you believe you have the “inside track” and stop telling others they need to do. If you saw the video, describe what is on it. If you spoke to the parent, tell us what she said. Maybe you can get us a copy of the nurse’s report from the school. That would help. Ironic, coming from someone who has not even made an effort to register for the site. Stand up and be counted.
Wow! Had the boy been white
Wow! Had the boy been white people wouldn’t be dwelling on the fact that the boy was a discipline problem. People would have been OUTRAGED at the bruises which are evident. If the child had a prior issues in the past is irrelevant. The job of the adults in the school system is to look out for the well being of the children. I mean I am somebody that works for a school and if a child injures himself I start panicking to make sure he/she is alright. I would never ever lay a hand on a child, that isn’t even something that would cross my mind. Now about the crayons being thrown, let’s get real people how life threatening are they really. What is the worst possible scenario .. a child loses ab eye ball? I highly doubt it. The victim endangered other kids lives with crayons?
The security guard should have taken the boy to her superior and let him deal with it. Its really outrageous the way people are so ignorant. Really had this been a caucasian boy from the north end and this would’ve been unacceptable.
Good Response
All the people that has commented on this need to put them self on this situation. If this kid was white that security guard would have been fired!!! There’s not reason why a security guard at a school have to use violence against any student.Specially in a so call good school.
The New Rochelle School
The New Rochelle School system needs to re-train their security guards so they have the tools to be able to handle confrontational issues such as this.
Proper training would have solved this issue.
What kind of training did this security guard have in order to solve the crayon throwing incident? She needed to use her brain power, not physical power.
Striking a student is never, never, never the solution. Did I say never? NEVER!
You do not hit children. It is not ok and the security guard needs the proper counseling as does the student to get back on the right track.
Come on New Rochelle, get it together!
first of all you dont even
first of all you dont even know the wole story, and for you to be putting false rumors is crazy, are u thinking of the welfare of the other kids any one could have been hurt, what if someone was to have hit there head anything could have happen, and another thing she is female and she has to protect her self and she can restrain him if need be this kid has been suspended on several occasion, he is very disrespectful, he doesnt respect authority, why would you wanna make this hard working woman with kids of her own loose her job for a lie, she is a hard working womanb, and if you ask anyone that knows her she is not the type of person but you know what I prayed on it and guess what God has the last word on the whole situation, what you need to do with your free time is get a life and get some real business to post up on her, like when one of my fellow wprkers was discriminated against…….. get a life and seek ther lord
This report is wrong from
This report is wrong from beginning to end.
To:
This report is wrong
To:
By the so eloquent articulation of your comment, it is crystal clear that you have intimate and direct knowledge of the events described above. Why don’t you tell us your version of the events so that we can clear the whole thing up and put the entire issue to rest.
Tell us what YOU know. What
Tell us what YOU know. What are you hiding ? You are wholly responsible for a grave disservice to the school, the child, the school board, and the community at large by not telling YOUR side of the story. Or, you know nothing and have nothing to contribute to help the situation. Which is it?
The devil is busy but he is
The devil is busy but he is a lier and the lord has the last word, and as for the kin im gonna pray for him for lieing and he knows he is lieng and you know God will prevail, people ia making a little thing into something big for nothing, first of all he put alot of people lifes in chepardy for throwing crayons and causing a confrontation between studenta and staff someone could have been really hurt bad, if could have cause a riot, someone could have stumbled and fell and got killed, but your not looking at that, and there is always two sides to a story and I heard that when they looked at the camera is did not show the security guard pushing him thats it, and why did they want two days later to report the incident that’s because its bogos well the lord has it all in his hand.
There is an article on this
There is an article on this topic in today’s online Journal News here: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090331/NEWS02/903310399
Has this child ever been
Has this child ever been suspended before? Is he in a gang which you so purportedly say exist all throughout new rochelle? Do you realize you’re printing a story on your blog without crediting any sources thus rendering your story completely FALSE! If the child was actually struck by the security guard that would entail an assault charge against the security guard? According to your sources is the NRPD involved in a conspiracy with the School District to beat their students? How deep does this sinkhole go?
I’ll bet it’s very
I’ll bet it’s very frustrating to you to see that LoHud is participating in the “FALSE” reporting of the incident. I guess the incident report card issued by the PD must be forged also. Wow! I think you’re really on to something. And, BTW, it doesn’t matter at all if the child has ever been suspended. The only possible reason to lay hands on a child is perhaps to break up a fight, or to protect ones self against harm. Maybe YOU’RE the one who’s “FALSE” and YOU have it all backwards. What if it was YOUR child?
OK seriously if the child
OK seriously if the child was assaulted the security guard would have been arrested…..SHE WASN’T! After viewing the video tape the PD said there was no slap on the face and the charge was dismissed. This is a case of a security job doing her job. The child was unruly. He was throwing crayons, which could have harmed other students. We seem to be missing the larger picture here. This child has been a discipline problem from day one and the security guard in question was doing her job. She was keeping the hallways safe. I can’t even believe I am responding to this blog. Everything on here is twisted and full of half truth. Please, before you continue you mission to trash people with you half truths….educate yourself and could you get a life.
You said:
OK seriously if
You said:
Journal News said:
and
Something must have happened…
You said at yesterday at 11:03 PM:
The Journal News said yesterday afternoon:
How can a charged be dismissed if a person was never charged?
How do you know that the videotape was reviewed by the police, when the Journal News reported that they were obtaining the tape that just yesterday? where you there?
What about the pictures the NRPD took, at 8:40 PM of the same day of the incident, where are they? That would clear this up quickly? What about the video timeline between the incident and the report to Mr. Martinez? All you have to do is follow the cameras…How about interviewing witnesses?
You said:
Our interpretation of your statement:
The child deserved what he got. Your comments raise even more concerns about the attitudes towards children and the school culture at Isaac E. Young Middle School. As a person in a position to protect children, you really need to reevaluate what you just wrote.
i hope the security guard
i hope the security guard has been suspended until further notice. Does anyone know the his/her status?
Do you know what happen for
Do you know what happen for you to say you wish the security guard got suspended, and we all know that them marks on his face came from when they was throwing those damn crayons oh God dont like ugly…………
N
I’m basing my statement on
I’m basing my statement on facts. This topic was started “as if” it is true. There were witnesses and video. Therefore, if it is true, i stand by my statement – no security guard or police should use excessive force on anyone unless to defend oneself.
I would tell you my truth, but i wasn’t there. If the story is not true or exaggerated, i retract my statement and apologize for my assumption and would like to conclude that this site needs to be careful how it presents its news to the public.
Nevetheless, i’m appreciative in having NewRochelleTalk post these reports to be publicized for all concerned parties including myself. I like the debates and the inputs several have made and realize how involved this community COULD be in making a better NewRocCommunity.
It is definitely more appropriate and relevant than what the media wants to shove down our throats about some pirates abducting ships – simply ridiculous….
Here is what is true.
The
Here is what is true.
The student has made allegations that he was physically assaulted by one guard and then later threatened by another guard, that the mother reported this to school officials and police. That even after the police conducted an “investigation” the mother and the student continue to stand by their previous statements and have reiterated them since.
It is also true that there was a similar incident last year involving a different student and another security guard. In that case, the security guard was transferred to another school within the district.
This is the same school where a supervisor was hanging stuffed animals on nooses at the height of the Jena 6 controversy in Louisiana which was all over the news.
This is the same school where the Principal is caught red-handed smoking a cigar on school grounds and then lies about it to government investigators.
This is the same school that claims to have had a 50% increase in standardized test performance for black/African-American and Hispanic students in two years — a claim that is absurd on its face.
So, when the administrators at this school claim that the incident never happened I tend to believe the student not the school.
As for the ridiculous claim that video surveillance “proves” that no crime occurred, anyone with common sense knows you cannot “prove” a negative. The video tape does not PROVE that no crime occurred. Even if the tape showed the guard striking the student that would not PROVE anything either because the guard might have been acting in self-defense. The tape can only corroborate testimony and the tape does corroborate the student’s story in that the guard and student were together in the school hallway at the same time. The guard says she did not do it, the kid says she did so that is he a “said-she said” situation. There are witnesses who were interviewed who confirmed the student was struck, there are the injuries to the student which were observed and reported by the school nurse, the administrators at the school and the police officer who took the incident report and their are photos, there is the contemporaneous nature of the reporting-the student went directly to the principal’s office to complain, the mother was called and came directly to the school to meet school officials.
Then there is motive. Does the student have a reason to fabricate a story? I have a hard time believing that a 12 year old kid would go to such lengths to fabricate an assault, I watched the kid on video tape and found him to be credible. Does the guard have a reason to fabricate her account? Yes, she would be fired if the district concluded she had struck a child. Does the school district have a reason to fabricate a story? Of course, the District always operates on the premise that a parent will litigate and treats situations accordingly — to lie, obfuscate, threaten, manufacture records, destroy evidence and otherwise engage in a criminal conspiracy to protect their interests.
In this case, I certainly do not trust the police. Not all police but certainly some. Having had two police officers show up at my house after I went to the school to see if the tip I had received about school principal Anthony Bongo smoking cigars was true, I believe that some members of NRPD are willing to act in the interests of Anthony Bongo. It was certainly my sense that the police came to my house as a form of intimidation (it did not work, we ran the story anyway).
In this case, the police told the Journal News that the security guard has been “cleared” of assault charges even though the mother never filed assault charges. How can you clear someone of charges that were never filed? The police also told the Journal News that the mother did not want to press charges which is a flat out lie — she went to the police station three times after filing the incident report and was rebuffed each time. The police also told the Journal News that the mother wanted to deal with school officials, also a lie.
The Journal News, for its part, ran a single source story — only an account from NRPD — without once interviewing the mother or the student. Obviously, they were more than willing to be interviewed since both appeared on Channel 12 News.
As is often the case, it is the cover up not the actual crime that becomes the problem. In this case, I believe the school district, officers at NRPD and the Journal News have cooperated in an attempt to suppress this story, discredit the victim and discourage other families from coming forward in the future.
What IS most disturbing
What IS most disturbing about this incident is in the way the school handles the problem. This is but one of a number of incidents reported that have the appearance of the school trying to “keep a lid on it” , as it were, for reasons only they can explain. I certainly was not present for any of these incidents and can only assume the reporting is fairly true. No one person has spoken to report the school’s side leaving the impression that it is as reported. That being the case, at what point is an investigation warrented by an outside authority? Children with broken wrists left to fend for themselves, special needs children assaulted, now this. You can say they are isolated incidents but when they keep occuring, at some point they become a pattern. THAT is what needs to be addressed. Are my children (or any of yours) safe from these isolated incidents? From the outside it seems like a free for all and if they cannot even oversee the staff ( who are the adults and should know better) how in thw world can they oversee the children? The Journal News , if they can still be considered reporters, SHOULD investigate. Has anyone looked at the Violence and Disruptive Incident Reports (VADIR) submitted by the schools and compared them to how many times the police have been called to the schools ? Or, just how many times have the police been called to the schools, and for what reason?If I could think of this it would seem as though a real reporter could figure it out. Are there any real reporters left at the Journal News or will I get the scoop on ” the official newspaper of record for New Rochelle” ?
Kids will be kids, they may smart off or be disruptive but they are still kids. There is nothing that warrants hitting, pulling chairs out from under, or threatening to be carried out by the adults. All this in a building chock full of mandated reporters and no one says anything? Were the perpetrators removed from the student environment? We just don’t know becuase the powers that be don’t want anyone to know —- anything. Maybe it will go away. And when someone severly hurts one of the kids, who will report that ? Something to think about when our kids get on the bus every morning.
I was very disturbed to read
I was very disturbed to read about the recent incidnt that took place at Isaac. I know the guard in question and I can tell you the picture being paintted is not correct. The person I know has helped me with my own child when he attended Isaac Young. She always kept him on track and would inform me if he was having a hard time keeping it together that day. The guard you are portraying seems to be a scary malicious person. I know this is not true and so do the students that attend Isaac and the parents of the children she has encouraged and helped. She has been there for many of them. I can not say what has happened i can only say that it saddens me that things are being portraid this way. I have had two boys pass through Isaac, both of which were a handful…but at no time did any staff member do anything harmful to any of my children.
Be that as it may,
Be that as it may, environment at Isaac E. Young Middle School forces good people and those who care to make mistakes. It is overwhelmingly frustrating, particularly at this time of the year. Often, it is the ones with less of guilt who pay. If you work at Isaac and you are not part of the “inner circle”, you know exactly what I mean.
Part of the “Inner Circle”?
Part of the “Inner Circle”? No, we don’t know what you mean. Please do us all a favor and explain it to the best of your ability. The people who have started this blog are morons and leading you to believe an “INNER CIRCLE” exists. I have a feeling this child is going to get into a lot of trouble if it’s discovered him and his mother are lying. Another one of Bob Cox’s terrible decisions to go forward and attempt to destroy a great school district.
New Rochelle is not a
New Rochelle is not a “great” school district. It is a good school district with many good teachers and some standout students. That you probably actually believe that New Rochelle is a “great” school district only shows you have not traveled much. You might want to expand your horizons to get a sense of what a “great” school district looks like.
What we have here is many good students, some beautiful building, some exceptional teachers, many good to above average teachers, some excellent programs in sports, arts and academics. Yet the school district fails large segments of its population. 50% of hispanic students at NRHS do not graduate on time and there is no specific program set up to help them. Why? Anyone who has spent any time at Isaac E. Young Middle School can tell you it is the most violent, poorest run school in New Rochelle. There is a gang problem in the schools. The leadership of the district is poor and the school board members either asleep at the switch or so obsessed with “maintaining property values” that they have lost all sense of right and wrong.
The district likes to argue that all of this is explained away by pointing to worse situations in other districts. How is that an argument? We’re better than Yonkers therefore we’re great? Who cares what sort of schools they have in Yonkers or Mount Vernon when you live in New Rochelle?
There are over 200 registered users on this site. New Rochelle Community Pulse is one of them. The first I heard of this story was when I read about it on the site. Just as I had nothing to do with you writing your comment I had nothing to do with reporting out this particular story. I have never met this kid and have no idea about his background, his academic record or anything else. The way this story sounds to me is that a security guard with no particular track record of bad behavior “snapped” and struck a child. Unless she was acting in self-defense, there is no justification for a district employee to strike a child and I have not read anywhere that this was a case of self-defense. Fair or unfair, the district cannot continue to employee someone who has struck a student.
This is hardly the first such incident in the District. A security guard struck a child about a year ago at Isaac. In that case, the guard was not terminated but instead transferred to another school. In this past year, a district employee at Trinity assaulted a child, an employee at Jefferson was suspended for abusive behavior, and there have been other incidents which have come to my attention but were not reported on Talk of the Sound.
From everything I have heard about Isaac, the school is out of control. If this is, in fact, the case then the District needs to deal with instead of circling the wagons to “defend” the teachers and staff. EVERYONE suffers in that situation so most of the teachers and staff would be victims of the circumstance not perpetrators. I do not have a definite point of view on whether or not Isaac is out of control — it sure sounds that way — but I do know this: a fish rots from the head down. You can draw a direct line between the “three monkeys” style of oversight of our school board members (hear no evil, see no evil, etc.), the hands-off style of Richard Organisciak and the clearly unqualified individual running the school to understand why there have been two incidents of guards assaulting students, the recent break-in, the noose incident, the cigar incident, the lying to county investigators incident and so on. Isaac has had problems for years so leadership alone is not the problem but so long as the district’s least competent administrator is in charge you can expect things to continue to deteriorate. And you can bet that Talk of the Sound that will be there to report on the whole sorry mess.
I respect this post very
I respect this post very much and I think you’re starting to lose your anger towards the city and the school district. You’ve taken a position which is admirable, yet it very rarely works out for the person who chooses to go that route. It will only bring you more anger and frustration along the way. I do think there is hope for this blog down the road though. I’ll probably even help you out.
I think your blog can be
I think your blog can be good for new rochelle one day.
But first you have to let go of your anger with the school district. Mr. Cox you sound very bitter and angry and that my friend will get you nowhere in life.
This security guard issue, you did not or whoever posted it did not even try to get the facts correct.
You have a chance now to do the right thing, you can start off by apologizing to the security guard for slandering her. next you can apologized to the school district for all of the disrespect that you alone have shown them the past year and thats just for starters.
This will make you feel better, you live in new rochelle help build up the school system and stop trying to tear it down, the true citizen who love new rochelle will never let you do that anyway. Save yourself before its to late people are starting to really despise you and take you for a joke. Don’t mistakes your few friends as loyal ones. Mr.Cox please quit while you’re behind. Try being a blessing and stop being a curse to the city school district of new rochelle.I am sure that they will welcome you home if you humble yourself and turn from you’re evil ways. plus you will sleep better.
First, I am not your friend
First, I am not your friend and secondly, I sleep fine.
You and several other commenters on this site continually assert that any criticism of the school district or any reporting of incidents that do not reflect well on the school district or the City should not be published here or anywhere else.
I would be fascinated to have you make the case as to why you believe criticizing the school district or reporting on stories the district do not want known should be prohibited?
To: “Ithink your blog can
To: “Ithink your blog can be…”
I was going to thank Mr Cox for creating this site but after careful thought I’ve decided to thank you. You see, you and people like you are the very reason this sight exists. You and yours alone have created this place where people can have a chance to speak and actually have a chance to be heard. People like you who choose to sit back and accept whatever is pushed on you, why, because it’s the holyschool board. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement and you do a huge disservice to the city, its children and the school board itself if you choose never to question anything. If you’re not guilty of anything you can stand with the righteous and answer any questions, the school board cannot do that. This website IS a blessing for the voices of those who cannot be heard. If you understood anything about repression you would understand how the school board has treated the very people who afford them their existence. They SHOULD welcome comments from anyone, no matter how unpopular. That IS the American way. So, stand next to me and thank Mr Cox as I thank you for creating him. You hace done us all a great service. (By the way, Mr Cox didn’t report about the security guard, he just provided the forum for it.)
Reporting incidents must be
Reporting incidents must be defined. The Journal News today reports that the Yonkers school system’s incident reports do not agree with the number of police reports. Why doesn’t the Journal News check New Rochelle schools?