Sexual Abuse Accusers Speak Out On Superintendent's Resignation

BABYLON, NY — The Babylon Board of Education officially accepted Superintendent Linda Rozzi’s letter of resignation, effective Aug. 1, at Monday night's board meeting.

Rozzi, whose resignation letter was dated June 29, 2021, faced criticism from numerous speakers as to why her announcement to the public was delayed for months.

Rozzi, and the district, have been at the center of heated controversy in recent months after dozens of former students claimed they were sexually and emotionally abused by teachers over decades. One former BOE member also claimed Rozzi of knowing about the years of abuse accusations and doing nothing.

The BOE also confirmed that they received Rozzi's letter in June and explained why no announcement about her departure was made sooner.

"At that time, we made a decision at that moment based on the management of the districts," said new BOE member Theresa Patri. "With two new assistant superintendents, a new principal at the elementary school, a new district clerk, we decided that we open the schools as safely as possible come that September and then make a transition to an announcement. So that's how we got to this point."

Patri also stated that she and other newly elected BOE member David Sonkin were informed of the superintendent’s resignation letter at their first board meeting on July 12, 2021.

Some alumni once again took to the podium at Monday night’s meeting to share their accusations and pain over a district they said they feel has failed them.

"Mrs. Rozzi, I am so happy you're leaving," said speaker and former student Eileen Berry. "I am so happy you are resigning. I am so happy that you are retiring.”

Many other speakers expressed frustration that they were allowed to speak on Zoom at the meeting, but were prohibited from doing so at previous in-person meetings.

Several alumni who identified as sexual and emotional abuse survivors also shared their irritation with the limited speaking time, as their audio was silenced after the three-minute mark. Several of them returned later on other computers to finish their testimonies, one even creating a “fake” name to reveal the flaws in the virtual system.

Recent graduate Kelly Walsh shared her story, accusing gymnastics coaches of bullying her and making comments about her weight.

“I gaslighted my feelings,” Walsh said, describing how her gymnastics career ended. “I was a girl with a crushed spirit, a low self-esteem, and more trauma to unpack.”

Walsh was one of several speakers who were cut off or muted. She later returned to finish her testimony on her mother's Zoom. Another recent graduate, whose display name was “Leo L-A” identified as gender fluid, and shared that a health teacher once made offensive comments about their gender identity.

"I was told by the teacher that gender fluid people do not exist," Leo-L-A said. "Gender fluid people are under the transgender umbrella and I now identify as trans and gender queer."

Leo L-A, who also claimed they spent $200 to fly back to Babylon for the November meeting, also later returned via Zoom to finish their testimony.

The BOE also responded to criticism garnered after a December 13 meeting that sparked outcry when the start time was delayed and some were left out in the hall due to limited seating.

They discussed implementing suggestions made on how to improve procedure at future meetings.
The previous meeting, which was delayed due to an award ceremony, was set in the Babylon High School library instead of the auditorium to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for both student athletes and attendees, the BOE said.

However, "If you look at the meeting, it was very difficult to enforce people wearing masks, staying six feet apart," BOE President Carol Dell’Erba said.

Dell’Erba also stated that the board recognized how several tables took up previously half of the space in the library; she said the board is more than willing to remove them in the future to allow for additional seating.

The board also went on to address the issue involving many attendees who waited more than half an hour for the meeting to begin, due to an unannounced, student-athlete award ceremony.

"We wanted to get them done in a safe, respectful manner to the students," a board member said. "We apologize for people being upset and angry. But we're just trying to keep things running."