AG Called To Investigate 'Teacher Sexual Misconduct' Accusations

BABYLON, NY — Lawmakers are demanding change after accusations of sexual abuse at the Babylon School District have unleashed a flood of personal stories from students past and present who say the wrongdoing has been swept under the rug for generations.

New York State Senator Phil Boyle and New York State Assemblyman Michael Durso will hold a press conference Tuesday at noon at Babylon High School, located at 50 Railroad Ave., calling on New York State Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa to "conduct a joint, comprehensive, and independent investigation into the allegations of teacher sexual misconduct at the Babylon School District."

Also expected to be in attendance Tuesday Barbara Maier and Darcy Bennet, who have shared their accusations of sexual harassment and painful stories of how they say their experiences with abusive teachers shaped their lives.

Laura Ahearn, founder and executive director of Parents for Megan's Law, a not-for-profit national community and victim's rights organization, said work is ongoing to intake all victims involved from the school district. Ahearn said she contacted the AG's office and will also involve law enforcement if needed. After all victims will be interviewed and provided with the support services needed — and recommendations will be made to the community and school district for policy changes, Ahearn said.

Parents for Megan's Law will work with the victims to affect any legislative changes identified that help bring them justice, she said.

In addition, the Crime Victims Center is also scheduled to conduct sexual harassment training to staff and school employees, she said. "We are working with the district to improve reporting mechanisms for students, and providing education to students and parents," Ahearn said.

Ahearn is also working on police and legislative changes with the victims and the community.

Victims are urged to contact Ahearn for intake and services by calling Parents for Megan's Law at 631-689-2672.

Last week, former Babylon Board of Education president Linda Scordino blasted current Superintendent Linda Rozzi during a heated BOE meeting, saying that she and the district have known for some time about accusations of abuse and wrongdoing in the district — because she had told them herself — but did nothing.

At that meeting, Farmingdale attorney Kenneth Silverman also stood up to speak, saying he planned to bring the case to the New York State Attorney General's civil rights bureau.

The charged meeting, marked by yelling from outraged parents, followed weeks of tension as first, a teacher was removed from a classroom and later resigned following "disturbing allegations"and then, a post on social media by former student Brittany Rohl — who said she was groomed and both sexually and emotionally abused by a former teacher — opened the proverbial floodgates as students came forward with their own accusations of abuse by teachers, coaches, and administrators that spanned decades.

Rozzi stated in a letter after the teacher was removed from the classroom that an internal investigation was currently underway after learning about the allegations made about an employee.

"The district does not tolerate misconduct and takes all allegations of such very seriously," said Rozzi. "Due to privacy laws, school districts are limited in the information we can release regarding this matter."

Rozzi continued to say that "the employee in question was immediately reassigned to home."

Parents refused to leave the meeting last week, saying they would remain all night if necessary until a number of teachers publicly accused of abuse by Rohl that night, and who were still employed by the district, were barred from returning to the building Tuesday.

The board of education went into an emergency executive session and came back to say that all teachers named publicly would be reassigned to their homes until an investigation was complete.

Last Tuesday, students took a stand, with hundreds marching out of their classrooms in protest.

At Monday's BOE meeting, which began with the hiring of new outside counsel Chris Powers of Ingerman Smith LLP to investigate allegations, a crowd turned out demanding answers.

One by one, some barely able to speak through the tears, a group of young women came forward to speak about what they said were decades of abuse and administrators in a district that left them afraid to come forward because their fears and concerns would be ignored, with "predators" protected and students left to feel worthless and alone.

Rohl sparked the outpouring when she posted about her experience on social media.

Bennett said she graduated in 2009 and the tennis teacher was a family friend. Her parents struggled with addiction and alcohol abuse and she had problems at home.

"Tennis changed all that," she said. Until the coach began pressing his body against hers while practicing her serve. The coach, who visited her family in another town after they moved, tried to kiss her. "I was 16," she said.

One by one, they came forward, their stories echoing similar words and emotions. "We are taking back what was ours," one woman said. "We demand to be heard."

With reporting by Maureen Mullarkey.