Middletown High School (New York)
Encyclopedia
Middletown
High School educates students in grades
9
-12
from the Enlarged City School District of Middletown
, which covers that city as well as adjacent portions of the towns of Wallkill
and Wawayanda
in Orange County
, New York
, USA. It is located on Gardiner Avenue in a small outlying area of the city, near the county fairgrounds on a small rise south of NY 211
.
The school, formerly Anthony Veraldi Junior High School, built in 1959, replaced the building now known as Twin Towers Middle School
as the district's high school in 1976 after a major expansion. It has been expanded at least four times since then.
Robert Sigler was investigated and convicted in 2003 for sexually abusing
a male student, then-principal Bernard Cohen was suspended
by the school board (with pay) and barred from school-related events for allegedly not doing enough to prevent it, and other allegations against him. Such as Under reporting Violence and complaints at the school (involving students, teachers and him), Corruptly Falsifying records: putting students who dropped out or got expelled under the "transferred schools" category, and last but not least Unethically accepting money and/or other bribes and favors in return for getting students diplomas, who did not meet NY state requirements. He claimed it was retaliation for his testimony before the county grand jury
investigating the abuse and that he was being scapegoated. Students claiming to be sympathetic to him organized a protest walkout
, spoke in his behalf at board meetings and then helped campaign during the ensuing elections, in which two
incumbent
s were defeated, Cohen denied having anything to do with this. Four years later, the school district settled with Cohen for $425,000.
The 2005 school year began chaotically when many students received incorrect class schedules or none at all due to problems implementing a new computer program, (some called it cohen's revenge as he still had influence at the school) and continued as ongoing construction did not run smoothly and disrupted the school.
Students again staged a walkout over a number of their concerns that they believed were not being taken seriously by the district administration, such as overcrowding and safety issues. Cohen's replacement, Larry Ashley, resigned three months into the school year, citing health problems.
Later that month, the district sought to fire
tenure
d art teacher
Peter Panse, who had offered his senior students a nude
figure drawing
class taught off-campus as a way to improve their portfolios and chances for scholarship
s at art schools. Very few of his students supported him, but many claimed they had felt pressured into taking the class. The district argued Panse had a conflict of interest
, since he personally profited from the students taking the class. After lengthy litigation, in January 2007 a state administrative law judge
ruled that he should have been suspended for only 15 days and ordered him reinstated.
The beginning of the 2007-08 school year also saw some more scheduling problems, with new textbooks ordered only the week before school opened and many teachers not knowing their own schedules. It should also be noted that among the technical faults within the school, the fact that the clocks don't work seems to stand out. Not as much so as the fact that the air conditioners don't provide any relief whatsoever, often spewing out cold air during the cold months. The same can be said for the hot months, either that or no air is provided, all of which is due to the construction that often takes place.
Middletown, Orange County, New York
Middletown is a city in Orange County, New York, United States. It lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. The city's population was 25,388 at the 2000 census...
High School educates students in grades
Grade level
Often, people are educated through a series of educational stages, such as primary school and university. They vary around the world, and not every person will attend the same stages...
9
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
-12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
from the Enlarged City School District of Middletown
Enlarged City School District of Middletown
The Enlarged City School District of Middletown serves the City of Middletown, Orange County, New York, and adjacent areas.It operates seven schools:*Chorley Elementary School - Grades K-1*Truman Moon Elementary School - Grades K-1...
, which covers that city as well as adjacent portions of the towns of Wallkill
Wallkill, Orange County, New York
Wallkill is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 24,659 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wallkill is centrally located in the county. Interstate 84 crosses New York State Route 17 in the southern part of the town. U.S...
and Wawayanda
Wawayanda, New York
Wawayanda is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,024 as recorded by the 2006 census.The Town of Wawayanda is in the western part of the county, south of Middletown.-History:...
in Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. It is located on Gardiner Avenue in a small outlying area of the city, near the county fairgrounds on a small rise south of NY 211
New York State Route 211
New York State Route 211 is a state highway located entirely within Orange County, New York, in the United States. The western terminus is at the intersection with US 209 located in Cuddebackville, and the eastern terminus is located at Montgomery at NY 17K, where it becomes the...
.
The school, formerly Anthony Veraldi Junior High School, built in 1959, replaced the building now known as Twin Towers Middle School
Twin Towers Middle School
Twin Towers Middle School is one of two middle schools in the Enlarged City School District of Middletown in Middletown, New York, USA. It is located at the intersection of Grand Street and Wisner Avenue in the northern section of the city...
as the district's high school in 1976 after a major expansion. It has been expanded at least four times since then.
2000s controversies
The school has been at the center of a number of controversies in the last several years. When former district superintendentSuperintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
Robert Sigler was investigated and convicted in 2003 for sexually abusing
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
a male student, then-principal Bernard Cohen was suspended
Suspension (punishment)
Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...
by the school board (with pay) and barred from school-related events for allegedly not doing enough to prevent it, and other allegations against him. Such as Under reporting Violence and complaints at the school (involving students, teachers and him), Corruptly Falsifying records: putting students who dropped out or got expelled under the "transferred schools" category, and last but not least Unethically accepting money and/or other bribes and favors in return for getting students diplomas, who did not meet NY state requirements. He claimed it was retaliation for his testimony before the county grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
investigating the abuse and that he was being scapegoated. Students claiming to be sympathetic to him organized a protest walkout
Walkout
In labor disputes, a walkout is a labor strike, the act of employees collectively leaving the workplace as an act of protest.A walkout can also mean the act of leaving a place of work, school, a meeting, a company, or an organization, especially if meant as an expression of protest or disapproval.A...
, spoke in his behalf at board meetings and then helped campaign during the ensuing elections, in which two
incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
s were defeated, Cohen denied having anything to do with this. Four years later, the school district settled with Cohen for $425,000.
The 2005 school year began chaotically when many students received incorrect class schedules or none at all due to problems implementing a new computer program, (some called it cohen's revenge as he still had influence at the school) and continued as ongoing construction did not run smoothly and disrupted the school.
Students again staged a walkout over a number of their concerns that they believed were not being taken seriously by the district administration, such as overcrowding and safety issues. Cohen's replacement, Larry Ashley, resigned three months into the school year, citing health problems.
Later that month, the district sought to fire
Termination of employment
-Involuntary termination:Involuntary termination is the employee's departure at the hands of the employer. There are two basic types of involuntary termination, known often as being "fired" and "laid off." To be fired, as opposed to being laid off, is generally thought of to be the employee's...
tenure
Tenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
d art teacher
Art education
Art education is the area of learning that is based upon the visual, tangible arts—drawing, painting, sculpture, and design in jewelry, pottery, weaving, fabrics, etc. and design applied to more practical fields such as commercial graphics and home furnishings...
Peter Panse, who had offered his senior students a nude
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
figure drawing
Figure drawing
In art, a figure drawing is a study of the human form in its various shapes and body postures - sitting, standing or even sleeping. It is a study or stylized depiction of the human form, with the line and form of the human figure as the primary objective, rather than the subject person. It is a...
class taught off-campus as a way to improve their portfolios and chances for scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s at art schools. Very few of his students supported him, but many claimed they had felt pressured into taking the class. The district argued Panse had a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
, since he personally profited from the students taking the class. After lengthy litigation, in January 2007 a state administrative law judge
Administrative law judge
An administrative law judge in the United States is an official who presides at an administrative trial-type hearing to resolve a dispute between a government agency and someone affected by a decision of that agency. The ALJ is usually the initial trier of fact and decision maker...
ruled that he should have been suspended for only 15 days and ordered him reinstated.
The beginning of the 2007-08 school year also saw some more scheduling problems, with new textbooks ordered only the week before school opened and many teachers not knowing their own schedules. It should also be noted that among the technical faults within the school, the fact that the clocks don't work seems to stand out. Not as much so as the fact that the air conditioners don't provide any relief whatsoever, often spewing out cold air during the cold months. The same can be said for the hot months, either that or no air is provided, all of which is due to the construction that often takes place.