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Educator raises hazing concerns at Ithaca school board meeting; district says investigation ongoing
Summary
A longtime district educator told the board she has reported hazing incidents and urged stronger disciplinary action and safety‑plan language; the board said written complaints are with relevant parties and that it cannot discuss ongoing investigations publicly.
At the public‑comment period of the June 30 Ithaca City School District Board meeting, educator Sandra Wald described two hazing incidents she reported and warned that current approaches — including restorative‑justice practices and the district safety plan — may not adequately address sexualized hazing.
Wald, who said she has worked in the district for about 20 years and in education for roughly 30, referenced national data and local patterns she described as "horrific" and emotional testimony about impacts on students. She said she had prepared a 12‑page study with citations documenting trends and urged the board to take stronger disciplinary action, saying "...when these trends happen ... they can get PTSD" and emphasizing the need for district response.
Board members interrupted when the comments risked disclosing identifiable student information and reminded the speaker that the district will not discuss ongoing personnel matters in public while they are being investigated. A board representative said, "There's an ongoing investigation that we can't talk about it publicly. We just can't," and confirmed written complaints had been sent to the relevant parties for review.
The board did not discuss specifics of the incidents in open session. The public speaker said she felt she had not received a substantive suspension or removal outcome and urged the board to take stronger steps; the board reiterated its obligation not to discuss active investigations in public and encouraged complainants to work with administrators and law enforcement as appropriate.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; the matter remains subject to the district's investigative process.
