Schools Pull Out Of New Rochelle Model Congress

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — With some Long Island schools backing out of a Model Congress event at New Rochelle High School, students of the New Rochelle Model Congress executive board invited advisors and parents to come tour the school Monday. The schools decided not to participate in the Model Congress due to concern about the recent violent incidents that happened in and near the school, one of which resulted in the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old student.

The Model Congress is scheduled to take place March 23-24. Six Long Island schools have said they will not be sending their students to participate, lohud.com said.

“It has come to our attention that many of you have reservations with sending your students to New Rochelle Model Congress this year in light of the adversity that our city has recently faced,” the letter, which is posted on the City School District of New Rochelle website, stated.

“In fact, we have been informed that several delegations will not be attending the event this year, despite numerous letters and phone calls from our advisors and principal, reaffirming that our school, and city at large, are indeed safe places to send your students,” the letter said.

The executive board refuted the way the school has been portrayed by local and national news outlets.

“If this is all you knew about New Rochelle High School, we would understand why you would not want to send your students to New Rochelle Model Congress this year,” the board’s statement said.

The tour was offered for Monday, Feb. 26. According to a district spokesman, no parents or advisors took the executive board up on its offer for a tour.

Valaree Schwab, 16, a New Rochelle High School student, was fatally stabbed by 15-year-old Z’inah Brown Jan. 10 at the Dunkin’ Donuts on North Avenue near the school.

Brown was charged with second-degree murder. A second teen has been charged in the Schwab’s stabbing.

A week after Schwab was killed, another student received a laceration on his hand in a pizzeria near the school and a 16-year-old was stabbed the next day in the high school. His wounds were not life-threatening.

Photo credit: NRED.org.