Parents Outraged Over Discovery at Buffalo School #67

Updated: March 13, 2008 06:40 PM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Parents wanted to give the school board an earful at Wednesday night's meeting about alleged sexual abuse of a student.

News 4's Alysha Palumbo reports parents had to just sit on their hands.

Parents outraged at the allegations of sexual abuse at School 67 took their concerns to the Buffalo School Board Wednesday night, but they weren't heard because the deadline to speak was Tuesday.

Concerned parent Mike Digiacomo said, "We were told that a public discussion would be available on April 9th. In my opinion, that is far too long."

News 4 has confirmed that a teacher at School 67 discovered the alleged abuse in November when a five-year-old autistic boy was taking a long time in the bathroom.

Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore said, "She went in and saw, I think it was the teacher aide, holding the autistic boy's private parts."

Now four months later, parents got this letter from the school's principal, not saying what happened, but that it would be dealt with swiftly and severely.

Digiacomo said, "If it was due to be handled swiftly and severely, the alleged perpetrator should have been removed from the school immediately."

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Story by Alysha Palumbo, WIVB.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - - Parents and community members are furious that they've just found out about sexual abuse allegations at School 67, four months after the alleged incident happened.

Rev. Kinzer Pointer, former District-Parent Coordinator, "The reality that this has taken several months to get to this point scares the hell out of me."

News 4 has confirmed that a teacher at School 67 discovered the alleged abuse in November when a five-year-old autistic boy was taking a long time in the bathroom.

Phil Rumore, BTF President, "She went in and saw, I think it was the teacher aide, holding the autistic boy's private parts."

Now four months later, parents got this letter from the school's principal, not saying what happened, but that it would be dealt with swiftly and severely.

Mike DiGiacomo, concerned parent, "If it was due to be handled swiftly and and severely, the alleged perpetrator should have been removed from the school immediately."

Dawn Darling, parent, "I thought you were here to protect our children and obviously not."

Parents took their concerns to the Buffalo School Board tonight, but they weren't heard because the deadline to speak was Tuesday.

Mike DiGiacomo, concerned parent, "We were told that a public discussion would be available on April 9th, in my opinion that is far too long."

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - - Some Buffalo Public School parents are outraged by what allegedly took place in a bathroom at Discovery School 67 in South Buffalo.

Ed Bednarz, parent, "Cause I have kids. A 4 year-old and a 6 year-old. If indeed that's what's happening. It just makes you sick to your stomach."

News 4 has confirmed a teacher became concerned when a 5 year-old autistic child seemed to be in a bathroom little too long.

Phil Rumore, Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) President, "She went in and saw, I think it was the teacher aide, holding the autistic boy's private parts."

The alledged incident involving the aid took place in a bathroom in November, and now many parents are wondering why it took so long to come to light.

Dawn Darling, parent, "I'm furious. Furious. And you knew about this how many months ago?"

Almost 4 months later, parents are just now getting letters about the allegation.

Dawn Darling, parent, "I thought you were here to protect our children and obviously not."

BTF President Phil Rumore says the teacher reported what she saw right away to the principle, the teacher writes the adult was not suspended and charged with sexual abuse. Without another witness to support my statements and the abuser's denial of my charges, my allegations were labeled unfounded.

Phil Rumore, Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) President, "You don't touch a young boy's private parts."

Until a few days ago, the aide was in the same classroom with the teacher and the student.

Rumore wonders why, if the allegation had been made against a teacher.

Phil Rumore, Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) President, "That teacher would have been immediately sent home and put on administrative leave."

The Buffalo Police Department's sex offense squad is investigating and may turn over its findings to the District Attorney's Office in the next week or so.

There are questions about whether proper procedures were followed by the school. The school board may take up the matter Wednesday evening.