Babylon Students, BOE Work Together For Change After Abuse Claims

BABYLON, NY —The Babylon Board of Education announced at Monday night's meeting that productive steps are being taken with community members to help support students after alumni came forward in recent months with accusations of abuse, spanning decades, by teachers in the district.

The meeting comes about two weeks after the arrest of Timothy Harrison, 46, a Babylon High School teacher, who was charged with raping a high school student in 2013.

"His arrest was the result of a courageous act by a young Babylon school district alumnus and our formal complaint for the Suffolk County Police," said BOE president Carol Dell’Erba at the start of the meeting.

Dell’Erba also said the board members were "horrified" to learn about numerous allegations from Babylon alumni, who claim multiple teachers and coaches sexually and emotionally abused them.

Attorney General Letitia James launched an investigation into the district in November. Dell’Erba said that the board is working with James' office, as well as with Suffolk County Police and a third-party investigation.

"It is our responsibility now to move this district forward. It should be unequivocally clear that our students' health and safety is the driving force for everything we do,"said Dell'Erba. "There's absolutely no tolerance for sexual abuse and misconduct. It is our job or moral duty to instill a culture of accountability and support is on our shoulders to ensure that never again will the students in this district be subjected to any kind of sexual misconduct perpetrated by an employee of this district."

Superintendent Linda Rozzi also shared actions the district has implemented to best support students. For example, the district has provided several Dignity for All Students Act workshops, and focus groups for Babylon parents. The district continues to host additional events, she said.

Also, the district plans to launch a reporting app, "Let's Talk!", where students, teachers and parents can file a report. The complaint will go directly toward a district DASA team. The app is expected to be launched at the end of March, Rozzi said.

However, one Babylon High School student speaker, Sofia, called for a proactive approach in dealing with student trauma, in addition to the "reactive approach" which she said she has experienced.

"Support was given in a format that requires students to seek out help instead of adults seeking out students who may need help," she said. "This is a situation that requires students to recognize they have a problem, acknowledge their feelings, decide to put trust in an adult, find the courage to come forward and then clearly articulate their feelings."

Many students, especially those in the junior high, may not be able to express if they need help. One-on-one check-ins, she said, would benefit those students.

Sofia stated that before the meeting, she had previously spoken with Rozzi and Assistant Principal Neal Campbell, but wanted to share her thoughts with the public.

"I'm aware that this isn't a problem that can be solved by just one student," she said. "This needs to be a district-wide conversation."

Sofia's coach was one of the several teachers assigned at home in November, she stated. After a BOE meeting in November where alumni listed, in public, the names of teachers they were accusing of abuse, including some who were still working at the school, members of the public in attendance at the meeting refused to leave until action was taken. Those five teachers were then reassigned, the district said.

The teachers played big roles in their students' lives, Sofia said, and the incident left many students feeling anxious, angry, and "simply not" wanting to be in school.

"They were taken without a clear explanation of why and without any idea of if or when they'd be returning," she said.

Several members of Babylon Alumni and Allies For Change, an advocate group for those who claim to be abused by Babylon School District employees, also spoke at the meeting.

The alumni stressed the importance of working together as a community, to continue implementing preventative measures.

In a statement to Patch about the outcome of the meeting, BAAC said:

"BAAC is cautiously optimistic about our future collaboration with the BUFSD Board of Ed. Last night’s meeting was what we hope is the beginning of a productive working relationship with the BOE resulting in meaningful change in the Babylon School District. "

They went onto say how they shared the disappointment of the student speaker, who described current students' needs unmet.

"With only three months left in the school year, we are concerned that it appears the district remains unable to articulate a clear and comprehensive strategy for ensuring BHS students have the resources they need in the way of extensive student and staff training and education," they said.

"BAAC hopes that together with the board, and with the support of alumni and the community, we can soon establish a safe learning environment for current and future students of the Babylon School District."

The members will attend a policy meeting with the BOE on Monday.