Today’s release of a long-anticipated report on an independent investigation into Pennsylvania State University’s handling of allegations of sexual abuse of children by long-time football coach Jerry Sandusky is a stark reminder of the failure of the New Rochelle Board of Education to conduct a long-promised independent investigation into the Jose Martinez child-sex-abuse case at Isaac E. Young Middle School.
Former FBI Director Louis Freeh was hired with a mandate “to investigate this matter fully, fairly, and completely, without fear or favor.”
After initially promising to authorize a similar independent investigation in New Rochelle, Board President Chrisanne Petrone has been silent on the matter. An email, obtained by Talk of the Sound, claims that Ms. Petrone was approached by two Board of Education employees at the Isaac E. Young Middle School about concerns over Martinez’ conduct with young boys at the school but that Petrone failed to make a report as required under the New York State mandated reporters law. Administrators at the school and in the District’s Central Office were also made aware of concerns about Martinez. No report was ever made by the district to Child Protective Services or the police.
The Freeh report concluded that top Penn State officials, including legendary football coach Joe Paterno “repeatedly concealed critical facts” as part of an effort to avoid bad publicity for the school. The report is a devastating indictment of the leadership at Penn State.
Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State. The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized. Messrs. Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley never demonstrated, through actions or words, any concern for the safety and well-being of Sandusky’s victims until after Sandusky’s arrest.
In New Rochelle, there has been no attempt to authorize an independent investigation to question the principal and assistant principal at Isaac E. Young Middle School, the district wide administrator for ELL services, the Assistant Superintendent responsible for Martinez at both Isaac E. Young Middle School or Jefferson Elementary School where he worked briefly prior to his arrest and subsequent conviction on child abuse charges. Many of those involved in blocking an investigation have direct legal exposure for failing to report possible sexual abuse of child as required under New York State law.
Martinez is just one of more than a half-dozen current and recently-former school district employees involved in sex crimes, most involving students, in the New Rochelle schools. In the past two months two more arrests were made, a buildings and grounds employee who solicited sex over the Internet from what he believed to be a minor and a librarian who solicited sex from a student and was arrested when she allegedly attempted to complete a sexual act involving a minor. Several other employees who engaged in sex crimes continue to be employed by the district. Talk of the Sound has since received information about two other employees alleged to have engaged in sex crimes involving children which would bring the total to 10.
The report described former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky’s actions and the ensuing coverup “a terrible tragedy was allowed to occur over many years at Penn State University, one in which many children were repeatedly victimized and gravely harmed.” Sandusky was recently convicted on 46 counts related to allegations by multiple victims of child-sex-abuse.
Freeh’s investigators conducted 430 interviews of various individuals that included current and former University employees from various departments across the University, as well as current and past Trustees, former coaches, athletes and others in the community. They analyzed over 3.5 million emails and other documents. In a statement, Freeh said that ome individuals declined to be interviewed, on the advice of counsel,including two former administrators who are facing criminal trials related to the case.
The New Rochelle Board of Education has not hired an independent investigator, conducted zero interviews of anyone including current and former Board of Education employees, as well as current and past Board of Education members and administrators. The Board of Education’s has not hired an independent investigator to analyze any emails or documents. Other than a statement that the Board intended to change a policy regarding staff being along, behind closed doors with students, there have been no publicly announced policy changes. The Board of Education has not identified any procedural failures nor sought disciplinary action against any current or former employees including Martinez whose resignation was accepted without comment in the days following his arrest.