Just before public comment at last week’s Highland School Board meeting, Board President Alan Barone made a brief statement about alleged misconduct by some players on one of the school district’s modified athletic teams.

“Each of us [on the school board] along with the administration unequivocally condemns any type of bullying or harassing behavior of any type. The board wants to assure you that the district takes every complaint of such behavior seriously and handles them in accordance with the Dignity for All Students Act. This includes having Dignity Act coordinators in each building who are especially trained to handle these investigations,” he said. “The board also acknowledges that when there are reports of such behavior, our community wants to understand what happened and know that disciplines were administered; however, please understand that we’re legally prohibited from discussing the discipline of individual students. Therefore, the board cannot comment on this incident this evening.”

Barone concluded by saying, “Please know that this Board of Education cares deeply about your child’s safety and well-being, and we will continue to work alongside our administrators and community to provide a safe, inclusive and accepting environment for all learners.”

Heather Goudreau said her son was sexually assaulted at the Middle School.

“I demand to know what you’re going to do to make sure he’s protected; I need to know. This isn’t the only student that was sexually assaulted, there were several others. How many more students is this going to happen to before someone is accountable. Are we waiting for death, suicide? I want to know what you’re going to do to protect them from this happening in locker rooms,” she said. “This can’t keep being swept under the rug. I want to know what new safety measures are in place to protect our kids. Can anyone answer that?”

Barone said because individual students are involved he could not answer the question. Goudreau shot back, saying, “I’m not asking you for their punishments, I’m asking you what you’re going to do to protect my student and all the other students that came forward.”

Barone said in the wake of a number of national school shootings, the Highland Board of Education and Administration improved safety and security measures, noting that the district revived the Student Resource Officer [SRO] program and has installed secure vestibules and a monitoring system in all of the buildings. During Covid the board hired additional counselors to help students deal with any emotional and academic issues, and a new policy was adopted that promotes inclusion and diversity.

Former Police Officer Lisa Livigni said she understands that the school board cannot release certain information, “but you need to be more transparent with parents so we can protect our children. When we give them to you for the school day, it’s your job to make sure there are adults around so these things don’t happen.”

Chris Branson found out about the incident from his Middle School son. He urged the board to find a way to be more transparent to the parents in the district when issues like this arise. He asked if there will be counselors available to the students, if needed.

“I’d like to know if that’s going to happen and is there going to be something in place to discuss it with these students who might be holding it in?” he asked.

Barone said the school’s website contains a letter from the Superintendent that addresses most of his concerns.

Genevieve Rolleri works in the mental health field, “and it’s a huge concern for all ages, not just Middle and High School students, and these are the results when they don’t feel protected, when they don’t feel they have a voice.”

Rolleri said Barone directing Chris Branson to the school’s website for answers, “is sickening, it’s appalling and it’s a cop out. I think that everyone here, and probably a few people are going to be honest who are sitting on this board, know that things get swept under the rug and that’s not going to happen this time…If this was an isolated incident then maybe you can have some type of reasoning, some type of response that would put everyone and the children at ease, but you can’t, you have no comment. So I would like to hear from each and every one of you [on the board] on how this time is going to be different because the fact that you’re sitting here in silence with your blank stares is literally rattling me, I’m shaking; this is so sad and I’m not even a parent.”

Barone said they are not going to go around the table and ask for comments from each member, “this is a meeting of the Board of Education and it’s not a public meeting.” He urged Rolleri to put her questions in an email to each board member, but added that it is not necessary to post them on the school’s website. Rolleri countered this, “I know you don’t think it’s necessary, that’s why it’s not happening but the sad truth is it is necessary.”

Board member Mike Bakatsias chose to speak.

“I would not interpret the silence as we’re OK with what happened. It’s a very litigious situation and where all of the individuals involved have due process and due process takes time, and we’ll make sure that all of those steps are taken,” he said.

Genisis Maldonado, who graduated in the Class of 2022, said her younger brother attends the Middle School, “and when I heard this my heart stopped. I couldn’t picture this happening, but it did.” She said the kids that this happened to, “should be taken care of more because they will have to deal with the trauma for the rest of their lives when they were sexually assaulted as a child.”

Jennifer Place has a child in the High School and said the school’s vague emails that were sent out only fired up the community. She said this alleged incident is about, “our own kids victimizing other students in the school, and it’s problematic. If this was an isolated incident, the kids would not have a name for the corner where this took place in the locker room. There needs to be better supervision and better communication between parents and kids.”

Elayne Veras does not want her child playing football for the Highland school district, “if this is what’s happening; this is not something that’s acceptable, and honestly, it’s very scary.”

Heather Goudreau returned to the microphone asking the board why the district sent out an email to every single parent saying the case was closed. “Can anyone answer that; you made it sound like it’s all done, we’re finished [and] the authorities will handle the rest.” She said she found out that her son had been sexually assaulted on a number of occasions in the past few years. Near tears, she asked the board, “Do you want me to bring him here so he can tell you what happened? He’s got to live with this for the rest of his life.”

Board member Ed Meisal acknowledged that Mrs. Goudreau is right, but said the discussion about making the school a safer place must take place within the community as the New York State Police continue their investigation.

“We’re going to establish policies that aid in the protection you want, but in order to get there we need as much information as possible and we’re doing that,” he said.
Barone promised that the board, “will actively move forward in a proactive way to try to address future situations that might occur with our students.” He stressed that this Board of Education is compassionate and supportive of the students and wants to provide them the opportunity to be a child while helping them be part of all of the activities that are provided by the district.