Conaway Steps In

Dr. Mayo is quoted in the above article, "This alleged incident should have been reported to Central Office and DCF immediately. The district is conducting its own investigation of these serious and disturbing allegations and how they were handled. We will follow the facts wherever they take us." I take issue with Dr. Mayo on his credibility to make these statements:

Too many wrongs in here to blame just one person. This moment it should be use as a sample of "zero tolerance" any word will not express the anger, pain and worried of a mother is feeling.

14 years old kids. lighthouse school trip.

delay, days? weeks? what it make worst is the no all parents have been inform.

How do we know if this story is true.Let us wait and see.

... And why the parent did not report to police I would have immediately. Principal and parent both erred big time. If your parent does not protect you, who will?

I worked at this school and I am NOT surprised!! ... I think DCF, New Haven Police, and New Haven Public Schools should talk to teacher currently at the school and those who worked there. They will find out that this isn't the first time this has happened ...

Dee,

I am concerned by your suggestion that the authorities should speak to teachers at Lincoln-Basset. As a former employee of that school, you should know that all of those teachers are mandated reporters. If indeed they knew about a sexual assault, which they did not report to DCF themselves, they are liable.

I am not suggesting that the authorities shouldn't investigate, or talk to teachers. I am merely suggesting that if a teacher knew something, and didn't say it before, they are unlikely to do so now.

At three-fifths:

You stated "How do we know if this story is true. Let us wait and see." It does not matter if its true or not with respect to the principal. She still had an obligation to report this in a timely manner even if it is found that the girl lied. One can not take that chance and wait for the truth to come out.

I was dismayed to see this incident reported on local news last night. I don't know Principal Gatison personally but I sensed that her reputation has been permanently damaged before all the facts are known.
My questions is this:
Why has Principal Ramona Gatison being held publicly accountable for what has happened on her watch and Principal Michael Crocco (at Barnard School) was not held accountable (publicly or otherwise) for a very similar thing that happened on his watch in 2009? WHY? ... WHY are there these disturbing inconsistencies in how senior management of NHPS handles potentially embarrassing incidents?
...Dr. Mayo does not own NHPS; he is a public servant and he needs to reflect upon whether or not he brings to bear the proper public virtue to the execution of his duties to serve the people of New Haven.
I submit Dr. Mayo has lost his way in this regard and no longer functions for us but for his organization and its internal politics. I implore him to stop running our schools from darkness and to bring everything out into the light. I know that Dr. Mayo is a member of the church that several of my cousins were married in (by the esteemed late Rev. Caulfield) and that he may not realize how damaging his management organization and style is to our kids, our schools, and our teachers and paras. I request that Dr. Mayo go to his prayer closet and ask that our Father guide him in the coming days and years so that what is happening in our schools can be effectively changed for the future of our community. There can be no darkness where there is light.

posted by: Concerned on June 14, 2011 10:23am
At three-fifths:

You stated "How do we know if this story is true. Let us wait and see." It does not matter if its true or not with respect to the principal. She still had an obligation to report this in a timely manner even if it is found that the girl lied. One can not take that chance and wait for the truth to come out.

Remeber the Duke Lacrosse Rape Hoax.All I am saying is I want all of the facts in before I pass judgment.

Mayo throws long time buddy Dr. Williams under the bus after Dr. Williams was allowed to run Clemente into the ground and now he goes after another long time administrator that also spent over a decade happily running a school into the ground and scapegoating teachers. Mayo is cleaning house of his own connected friends?

All teachers, principals, guidance officers, school psychologists are "mandated reporters." That is, we are required to report any suspicion of child abuse to DCF. We are not required to determine whether it happened or not; that is for DCF to investigate.

The "alleged rape" is not the reason that a principal or teacher would be suspended in a situation like this (unless an investigation resulted in findings of negligence or worse). Regardless of what actually happened, as soon as there is any inkling that something did happen, the principal or any other mandated reporter who heard that something may have happened is required to report it.

OMG, now Cross will only have 7 administrators and 10 consultants - how will they survive?

Mr.Garth Harries was there today! He should have been there years ago, the school is so poorly run it is a crime. Simply putDaniels, Hooker & Fair Haven are the only schools that have adminstration that makes a difference and does not belong to "the church"

First, fire Dr. Mayo....its time for new leadership in the NHPS. Second, arrest and prosecute the students if the allegations are true to the fullest extent of the law, expulsions, what a joke....third, this should have been reported to NHPD and DCF the second they knew about it, fire the princiapl for failure to follow a state mandate to report incidents of this nature.

There are many things to take away from this incident. While Romana Gatison should not be crucified in the media as a neglectful administrator... whatever the allegations or truths behind what really happened amongst the students she did have a legal obligation to report this matter to her director at central office. This would not only safeguard her but also the NHBOE from civil lawsuits. As a principal she makes well over $110K annually and should not take her job so lightly. Perhaps this is the shake up needed (of course not at the expense of Mrs. Gatison) to shed light on a number of BOE employees not fulfilling their job duties but rather safegaurded and shielded by their connections to Dr. Mayo. IF IT COMES OUT THAT MRS. GATISON WAS NOTIFIED BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHER ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT AND KNOWINGLY WITHELD INFORMATION FROM HER CENTRAL OFFICE DIRECTOR, SHE SHOULD BE FORCED TO RESIGN EFFECTIVE JUNE 30TH.

" Should morals, ethics, bullying prevention, sex and drug education all be taught at home? YES!!! However, since students are at school a minimum of 6 hours a day 9- 10 months a year the adults who are with them must educate them in all areas for everyone's safety and wellbeing. New Haven schools are not only taking kids to Lighthouse Park, but out of state to places like Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and even Disney. The number 1 thing to teach all our children is to look out for themselves and each other. We are our brother's keeper! If you see or hear something that is not right SPEAK UP! If you don't stand up or speak up for yourselves or others you are part of the problem! The adults in our schools owe the children a good example, safety, a listening ear and a watchful eye. From the time I was little we were told we had to always use the buddy system...whether it was on a school trip, near the water or going to a public bathroom. This should be taught and mandated in the New Have Public Schools! This will not put fear in our children if it is taught like any other safety lesson, it will keep them safe and know how to look out for one another. "

It is about time that the covers are pulled off of what has been going on at Bassett under Gatison's 'leadership' for years. The current allegations have happened at least three times before-when teachers or support staff call DCF Gatison reprimands them and does a song and dance for DCF that the teacher 'misinterpreted' what happened. ...

@ The truth,when u can pick and choose who comes to your school you have a top school. If the administrators can turn these schools around send them to the schools in question...

Seven (7) teachers knew about this incident and did not report it to the principal until several days after the alleged incident. Nothing has yet been done about these teachers. The principal took immediate action after learning about the alleged abuse of the female student. The Principal is being scapegoated by Superintendent Mayo in order for him to protect his own backside. He supplied the media with pictures of the principal, a 43 year veteran of the NHPS. Recently a principal was under criminal investigation but was not placed on leave, although Superintendent Mayo knew about his being under criminal investigation. The principal needs to be reinstated with an apology from Mayo and the school board and city. I hope she sues the city-that seems to be the only way to get their attention.

I agree with the comments that this goes on far too often in New Haven, and so many times is brushed under the carpet. Many administrators including Gatison and Crocco chastise teachers for reporting to DCF.
Perhaps Crocco should be looked at more closely as well?
As for all your heartfelt posts, why not also put them on the comments with the New Haven Register article where they get more exposure?
"Wake up New Haven" is right!

As a resident of New Haven and alumni of NHPS, it's a shame to say that I am not surprised in the least that this is going on in the district. I am truly saddened that children in our city - who go through enough turmoil at home many times - cannot feel safe in their own school. When will New Haven evaluate its administrators and teachers to ensure that the students come first? When will parents wake up and realize that the "education" their children are receiving in many New Haven schools will fall by the wayside if they aren't active participants as well?