Sex Offender Scams His Way Into Schools

Parents should think twice about their childrens safety, as a convicted sex offender brandishing a Department of Education (DOE) identification badge allegedly entered two schools last week and viewed students’ records.
According to the Queens District Attorneys office, Matthew Matagrano, 27, of Jackson Heights, a level three sex offender, obtained a New York City Department of Education identification badge in April, which he then used to gain access to The Renaissance Charter School and later PS 212, both in Jackson Heights. 
Councilman Peter Vallone, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, who recently called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to better notify communities of the presence of sex offenders, called the incidents another example of the need to keep parents informed.
"People who should receive notification of sex offenders in their neighborhood parents, teachers, women’s groups are not getting this information in a timely manner," he said.  "This is why it’s so important for the community to be notified. Parents must know so they can keep their eyes open and work together to protect their children."
According to Renaissance Charter School officials, Matagrano, who had allegedly entered up to 10 schools prior to last week’s incident, claimed to be a quality assurance official from the DOE there to inspect the school’s computers. 
The school’s safety officer, whose position was in danger of being terminated due to budget cuts early in the year, asked Matagrano to produce identification. He was then made to sign in to the school’s visitor list, in accordance with standard operating procedure.
"The identification he had is specific to people who work in the downtown offices of the Department of Education," said Renaissance Charter School principal Monte Joffee. "There are people who have been with the Board of Education for 30 or 40 years and don’t have this credential."
Matagrano, who was accompanied during his three-hour "inspection" by a staff member and seemed informed yet unfocused, then asked to see student records. 
According to Joffee, this was the initial indicator that the "inspector" was a fraud, as DOE officials, who often conduct unannounced "spot checks" of schools, remain specific to one area of inspection.
Eileen Sanders, co-president of The Renaissance Charter School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), said that the school had been expecting a DOE representative later on in the week, and that school officials finally called to verify Matagrano’s presence. When they were informed that an inspector had not, in fact, been sent, police were called.
At that point, Matagrano had already gained access to the records of 11 students and had left the school.
"He took no notes while he was in the school and he had no recording devices," said Joffee.  "And he was never allowed near any children alone."
According to the Queens DAs office, Matagrano then went to PS 212, again attempting to gain admittance by masquerading as DOE quality auditor. However, he was told to return later.
"My main concern was that this man was not near any children," said John Bernadino, principal of PS 212.
Matagrano was later arrested and charged with burglary in the third degree, forgery in the second degree, attempted burglary in the third degree, criminal impersonation in the second degree and falsifying business records in the first degree. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison. 
The Renaissance Charter School administrators, who later spoke with students, informed parents immediately and held a meeting the next day.
"The parents who attended were upset that someone could obtain a false ID and get into the school," said Sanders.  "I myself have three children in the school and am infuriated, but my anger is not at the school, it’s at the Department of Education for allowing this to happen."
Marjorie Feinberg, a spokesman for the DOE, said an investigation was proceeding.
"Our office of Special Investigations is conducting a thorough examination on how this person got a legitimate identification card," she said. "We are taking this incident very seriously."
Officials from both schools have said that they have now instituted a policy of verification, whereby visitor identification will be confirmed with the DOE before allowing entrance to the facility.
"Following this procedure is important in retaining student safety," said Joffee. "We’re now living in an environment where all safety measures must be questioned and checked."