14 FEBRUARY 28, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Cannabis conundrum at Forest Hills High School
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz
responded to the allegations
that Forest Hills High School
(FHHS) Principal Ben Sherman
allowed students to smoke and
vape pot on campus, leading to a
majority vote of no confidence in a
recent United Federation of Teachers
(UFT) poll.
Sherman – despite recent attempts
to boost safety and surveillance in the
school – may now have his reputation
called into question as Koslowitz
is urging the city Department of
Education (DOE) to step in and ensure
all laws are being followed under the
principal’s watch.
The DOE says they are investigating
the matter.
“Parents moved in to the
neighborhood so their children
could attend FHHS. I have been in
the school countless times and I
can tell you that what I read in the
newspaper is nothing like the fine
school that I experienced in those
visits,” Koslowitz said, referring
to the story’s first appearance in
another Queens newspaper.
The UFT voted 195-21 no confidence
in Sherman’s leadership on Feb. 14 –
Valentine’s Day.
“I am asking that the DOE
immediately intervene at FHHS to
insure that all laws, rules, regulations
and policies are being adhered to,”
Koslowitz said, then referenced the
New York Post article that put FHHS
under the spotlight. “With respect
to the principal, I am not rushing to
a judgment based on a newspaper
article. Those disciplinary matters
will take their due course. But, the
health and safety of the students
must be guaranteed and guaranteed
without delay.”
The DOE’s Substance Abuse
Prevention and Intervention
Specialist (SAPIS) at the school is at
the helm in terms of marijuana use,
according to agency, and FHHS is
not lacking in personnel to handle
this matter.
“Possession of marijuana is
prohibited in any DOE school, and
we’re continuing to provide support
to the school. The superintendent
will investigate these complaints,”
DOE spokesman Doug Cohen said.
A teacher familiar with the
situation, who spoke to the Ridgewood
Times on the condition of anonymity,
described low morale among teachers
at the school and complaints that
bathrooms and locker rooms are no
longer under the watch of teachers
to prevent marijuana and vape use
among students.
The teacher alleged that Sherman
had once defended a lax stance
against marijuana use by claiming
it was going to be legal soon, but the
source made the case that alcohol is
already legal and its use would not
be tolerated.
Although the teacher had no
complaints regarding the SAPIS
personnel at FHHS claiming that
there was a “talented” drug council
on campus, the blame for drug use
needs to be placed on the principal
for allowing it in the long run.
Sherman did not respond to a
request for comment but told the
Ridgewood Times at an earlier time
that he was instructed by the DOE to
not speak to the press.
The UFT and teachers in the school
continue to support the vote of no
confidence in Sherman and would
like to see him removed from his
position, the teacher said.
The New York Post reported on
Wednesday that numerous NYPD
School Safety officers were observed
on campus at Forest Hills High
confiscating vape pens and stopping
class-cutters.
BY STEPHEN LEPORE
SLEPORE@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
Some local laughs are being used
to bring a big-time helping hand
to students at Christ the King
High School.
The Middle Village school got a
visit from the local Italian-American
club Associazione Culturale Italiana
Di New York recently.
The organization gave them
the proceeds from a recent
local comedy show to benefit
art scholarships for students,
totaling $5,500.
The money will go toward the
Constance DelVecchio Maltese Art
Scholarship, which celebrates the
late wife of Serphin R. Maltese, the
chairman of the board of trustees at
Christ the King. Constance Maltese
was an artist who was eventually
knighted by the Republic of Italy
and further honored for her works
of art and achievements, which went
toward enhancing Italian-American
heritage and experience.
Photo courtesy of Christ the King High School
Forest Hills High School Principal Ben Sherman at a December meeting.
Photo: Mark Hallum/RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Italian organization’s comedy act raises scholarship funds
Christ the King Principal Geri
Martinez, President Michael Michel
and Board of Trustees Chairman
Serphin R. Maltese attended the
presentation with Associazione
Culturale Italiana Di New York
Chairman Tony DiPiazza and board
members Frank DiPiazza, Joe Natasi,
Maurizio Troia and Tony Mule.
“On behalf of Christ the King
High School, I would like to thank
Chairman Tony DiPiazza and
Associazione Culturale Italiana Di
New York for their splendid efforts
and generous contribution to Christ
the King’s students, which will allow
us to reward our artistically gifted
students,” Maltese said.
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
