NYC Faculties Chancellor David Banks appointing a South Bronx superintendent who’s been accused of sexual harassment is “unacceptable and insulting to all victims,” native pols railed in a letter on Wednesday.
Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala and 6 different Bronx elected officers known as out Banks and the Division of Training for choosing Roberto Padilla as the brand new District 7 chief a couple of months in the past.
“How does a metropolis that strives for range, fairness, and equal protections for all, justify designating a person with a number of sexual harassment allegations, to look after our kids and their educators,” reads the letter, obtained by The Put up.
Padilla, beforehand a superintendent in Newburgh, within the Hudson Valley, is a named defendant in a civil swimsuit filed by two former, feminine educators accusing him of office harassment and retaliation.
The DOE employed Padilla in June as a part of a systemwide shakeup requiring all district bosses to reapply for his or her jobs.
The pols requested the division to rethink Padilla’s appointment to the district and submit a proper report back to the Metropolis Council on its hiring practices and processes.
“How on the earth did the New York Metropolis Division of Training deem this man to be acceptable to steer District 7?” reads the letter, signed by councilmembers Althea Stevens, Amanda Farías, Pierina Ana Sanchez and Eric Dinowitz, in addition to meeting members Latoya Joyner and Natalia Fernandez.
Councilwoman Ayala instructed The Put up she solely issued an official protest to Padilla’s appointment after weeks of behind the scenes discussions with the chancellor’s workplace over the summer time.
She mentioned she urged Banks to withdraw Padilla’s appointment as superintendent of the college district serving her constituents — and he refused.
“There’s an issue with DOE’s vetting. This man’s conduct was inappropriate. It’s the Andrew Cuomo state of affairs,” Ayala mentioned, referring to the ex-governor being pressured out over sexual misconduct claims, although he wasn’t felony charged. She mentioned she believes in due course of, however famous a faculty district investigation in Newburgh had substantiated a few of the allegations.
Whereas the civil swimsuit towards Padilla is ongoing, the Orange County District Legal professional Workplace mentioned in Might it might not deliver felony fees following an area investigation.
Christopher Borek, the chief assistant district lawyer, instructed The Put up the superintendent was not charged as a result of there was no proof that he had dedicated any crime particularly in Orange County — “the one place the place we have now geographical jurisdiction to research and prosecute crimes,” he mentioned.
Former Newburgh elementary faculty principal Una Miller, 41, and highschool English trainer Elizabeth Walsh, 36, accused Padilla of sexual harassment throughout a piece journey to San Diego in August 2021. They alleged he touched them inappropriately and made feedback that resulted within the ladies feeling “uncomfortable,” “scared” and “horrified.”
The 2 ladies escalated complaints of inappropriate conduct to a office harassment and retaliation lawsuit this spring in Orange County Supreme Courtroom, naming Padilla, the Newburgh faculty district and faculty board as defendants.
After a report was made to district human assets, Padilla was suspended and later awarded a resignation deal. The monetary settlement permits Padilla to proceed amassing a $279,000 wage from the Newburgh public colleges via November 2023 — on prime of what he will probably be paid for his new gig within the Huge Apple.
“We wish to thank the NYC leaders who're standing up for college kids, lecturers and households,” Walsh and Miller mentioned in a joint assertion to The Put up.
“We had been shocked to study of his appointment, however our dismay on the resolution hasn’t lessened our resolve to carry Padilla, the Newburgh Faculty District and Newburgh Board accountable for the harassment and retaliation we’ve suffered.”
Padilla has nonetheless not answered the civil lawsuit, regardless of being correctly served and lacking his deadline to answer, in accordance with the Newburgh educators’ lawyer, Alex Berke of Berke-Weiss Legislation primarily based in Beacon.
The Division of Training didn't return a request for remark.
Post a Comment