Local school superintendent stands accused of racism

1990

Over board

Education District 10’s superintendent, Fred Goldberg, stood accused of racism for failing to attend a tenure review hearing for a teacher under his supervision. Board of Education lawyer Lacy Wheeler claimed that Mr. Goldberg only decided against attending on finding out that Mr. Wheeler was black. Mr. Goldberg’s explanation varied between a claim that he was unable to attend because the hearing was scheduled for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and that he was didn’t want to work with Mr. Wheeler because he didn’t know him.

Mr. Goldberg had spent nine years in his job, but the investigation that followed led to his firing on April 26, with Riverdalian Lynne Silverstein casting the deciding vote.

Even after the firing, the local board was so dysfunctional that its members were called before New York City’s school chancellor and told to clean up their act or face dissolution.

1990 was also a year of passings in the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Area.

The last person to grow up at Wave Hill when it was still a private house died at the age of 99. Dorothy Perkins Freeman spent her childhood years in the Glyndor House and swam in swimming pools especially constructed for her use. In 1960 she moved out and passed her home into the safekeeping of New York City for all to enjoy.

Her decision to preserve her home for all time came in the same year that the Riverdale Historic District was created, ensuring that Wave Hill wouldn’t be the only sacrosanct property in the area.