By Kathianne Boniello
Administrators at a Flushing intermediate school have been conducting an investigation over the last several months on charges that several students engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior in the classroom, a Board of Ed spokeswoman confirmed last week.
Board of Education spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said last Thursday IS 25 at 34-65 192nd St. has been conducting an investigation since early April after a parent complained to school Principal Dorita Gibson about “inappropriate behavior” of students in their child’s class.
Feinberg said one teacher resigned and at least three students were suspended in connection with the investigation.
“The school has now launched a full investigation and we are waiting for the results,” she said.
School District 25 Deputy Superintendent Harvey Sherer said the investigation began as soon as the alleged incidents were brought to the attention of Gibson.
“I’m sure there is a lot of rumor, a lot of misunderstanding and a lot of untruths,” Sherer said of the investigation. “I wouldn’t place too much stock in that. The truth should be known.”
Gibson did not return repeated calls for comment as of presstime Tuesday.
Sherer declined to give details as to the nature of the investigation or how many students may have been involved in the alleged incidents. He would not confirm or deny whether or not the inappropriate behavior was sexual in nature.
One person who asked that her name not be used said reports in the community have exaggerated the situation.
“It’s nothing horribly severe,” she said. “It’s not something like what was coming out of the Bronx.”
The news of the IS 25 investigation came shortly after an elementary school teacher believed to be HIV positive was arrested for molesting several students in the Bronx.
Feinberg also declined to give details of the alleged incidents, citing the school’s ongoing investigation.
IS 25 sits on the border between School District 25 in Flushing and School District 26, drawing students from both districts. School District 25 covers schools in Flushing, Whitestone, College Point, Bay Terrace, Auburndale and Kew Gardens Hills. Sherer said IS 25 was one of the top performing schools in the district.
One source who asked not to be identified said the incidents occurred last fall and the teacher who was in charge of the class at the time was reassigned within the school. It was unclear as of presstime whether or not the teacher who resigned was in charge of the class when the alleged incidents occurred.
Civic leader Frank Skala, president of the East Bayside Homeowners Association, was a former teacher and union rep at IS 25 until he retired in the early 1990s.
Skala said he had heard rumors of the alleged incidents at IS 25 and that at least 10 students had been involved.
“Kids and parents ought to know exactly what’s happening,” Skala said. “If you keep your mouth shut, people think the worst.”
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
