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Parents and advocates press Paterson board on alleged mistreatment of special-needs students, staff RIF and school closures
Summary
During a lengthy public-comment period, residents raised multiple concerns: an allegation that special-education students were given hot sauce as punishment, long-running grievances over a 2019 reduction-in-force, and broad opposition to closing high-performing choice schools. Speakers demanded timely investigations, corrected personnel records and more community engagement.
A large public-comment block at the Paterson Board of Education workshop drew attention to three separate but related areas of community concern.
First, a community advocate described an incident (reported from nearby Elizabeth) alleging that special-education students were given hot sauce by an educator as punishment. "Special ed students was given hot sauce by 1 of the teachers as a form of punishment," Salamis Ma'al said, and parents called for immediate investigation and better parent notification procedures. Ethel Smith Thomas, a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, said a three-week delay in notifying families about an incident was "unacceptable" and asked what protocols are used to interview nonverbal children and safeguard their rights.
Second, several speakers renewed criticisms of how the district handled a 2019 reduction-in-force (RIF). Alexander Cardillo and Joanne Cardillo urged the board to correct personnel records and said the RIF process had been misapplied, alleging that a principal gave false testimony; they asked the board to use its authority to remedy the long-standing grievance.
Third, dozens of parents and community members spoke against proposed closures and reconfigurations tied to the middle-school plan. Speakers said many choice schools deliver strong academic outcomes and essential wraparound services; they accused the district of poor communications and urged the board to preserve neighborhood and choice programs. "Why would you like to destroy something that is good?" asked Kimberly Maldonado in reference to Young Men's Leadership Academy.
Board members repeatedly acknowledged the public concerns and asked administration and counsel to provide follow-up; the meeting did not include investigative findings or personnel remedies. The board asked the administration to return with further information, and several commissioners committed to ensuring full community engagement in any next steps.
