DOE takes steps to make PS 207 safer

Following accusations of widespread bullying and administrative stonewalling at P.S. 207, the Department of Education (DOE) has announced measures to improve safety at the Kingsbridge school.

“Superintendent Melodie Mashel has been working closely with the school to address concerns that have been raised,” a DOE spokesperson said in an April 27 statement. “Following a recent visit to the school, she has led the implementation of the below actions and will continue to track progress and ensure the school is providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students.”

The changes include hiring four school aides “to ensure safety, especially during lunch” and scheduling “a recurring safety meeting” as well as sessions for parents to have coffee with Principal Maria Rosado.

Parents’ association member Consuela Hernandez confirmed four people have been hired to work during lunch, adding that one “lunch mother” had been the sole supervisor of the period until then.

She was not aware of a recurring safety meeting. She said parents learned of a “coffee with the principal” session just a day before the first one, with eight people showing up to the event.

“We don’t get the respect we should be getting,” Ms. Hernandez said.

Additional measures from the DOE include repairs to a school fence and the purchase of equipment during recess — balls, hula-hoops and portable hop scotch boards.

Ms. Rosado could not immediately be reached for this article. She has not answered any interview requests since The Press began reporting on allegations of safety problems at P.S. 207 in December. Since then, at least two children have withdrawn from the school on grounds of severe bullying in one case and alleged sexual harassment in another.

Problems at P.S. 207 have come to light as the Spuyten Duyvil School (P.S. 24) is struggling to fill a principal vacancy and deal with overcrowding. While local Superintendent Melodie Mashel has attended several P.S. 24 parents’ association meetings in recent months, P.S. 207 parents say she has not communicated with them.

Ms. Hernandez said the PA has sought a meeting with Ms. Mashel since March 4 and that the superintendent only replied last week, to say she can meet with parents on Monday, May 23. Ms. Mashel is at the center of a controversy in which Assistant Principal Manny Verdi says she has sought to punish him after he complained about activity by northwest Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (see story, page A1).

Ms. Hernandez speculated that Ms. Mashel was showing preferential treatment toward P.S. 24 since it serves many students from relatively affluent Riverdale. 

Discussing Ms. Mashel’s involvement at P.S. 24, Ms. Hernandez said, “Why? Because it’s Riverdale. We’re still waiting on that meeting.”

She added that in spite of the new safety measures, the DOE is not holding Ms. Rosado fully accountable for problems at her school to date.

“She gets away with two smacks on the hand... What’s the DOE doing?” Ms. Hernandez said.

Northwest Bronx Councilman Andrew Cohen, who has met with P.S. 207 parents, welcomed the recent measures from the DOE. 

“These are meaningful changes that could and will make a difference, but there has to be a commitment to actually do it,” he said.

Mr. Cohen said he plans to attend the school’s next PA meeting, scheduled for Friday, May 13.

“I’m committed to making sure the students are safe there,” he said. “I won‘t walk away from that commitment.”