WWW.4 JULY 15, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES QNS.COM
DOE serves Maspeth High School
principal with disciplinary charges
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
The city’s Department of Education
(DOE) removed Maspeth
High School’s principal from
his position yesterday aft er substantiating
claims of his involvement in a
grade fraud scandal.
Principal Khurshid Abdul-Mutakabbir
was accused of changing
incomplete grades to passing grades
and awarding undeserved credits
to students. According to a DOE
spokesperson, these claims were substantiated
by conducting nearly 100
interviews with students, staff and
parent witnesses.
The Offi ce of Special Investigations
(OSI) also looked at documentary
evidence.
“Following DOE’s investigation
into Principal Abdul-Mutakabbir’s
unacceptable behavior, DOE served
him with disciplinary charges and removed
him from payroll while we seek
to terminate his employment pursuant
to state law,” DOE Spokesperson Katie
O’Hanlon said. “Our schools must have
the highest standards of academic
integrity, and we are working quickly
to bring in new, qualifi ed leadership to
Maspeth High School.”
Per State Education Law, following
Abdul-Mutakabbir’s disciplinary
charges, the DOE is pursuing his
termination.
A hearing will take place, and if he
is found to be guilty of any charges, he
will face discipline as determined by
the hearing offi cer.
Before the investigations were
completed, the DOE made sure to
monitor the administration of the
Regents exams. Maspeth High School
was not made aware in advance of
the DOE’s oversight during that time.
Superintendent Frederick Walsh also
monitored the Regents and saw no
improper testing protocols.
Councilman Robert Holden started
to bring this scandal to light two years
ago and criticized the DOE for moving
slowly on investigations.
“It’s good to fi nally see the principal
removed two years aft er I helped the
Maspeth High School whistleblowers
stand up to the corruption and intimidation
and break the story,” Holden
said. “It has taken far too long, because
neither the administration nor the
DOE was in any hurry to investigate. I
brought this disgrace to the attention
of the chancellor and mayor directly
and there was no action taken.”
A phone call to Maspeth High School
requesting comment on the matter
was not returned as of press time.
Maspeth High School is located at 54-40 74th St. Screenshot via Google Maps
Grand Street Bridge over Newtown
Creek to close for maintenance work
on weekends during summer months
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
The Grand Street Bridge
over Newtown Creek will
be closed for maintenance
work on Saturdays and Sundays
between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. through
Aug. 28, according to the city’s
Department of Transportation
(DOT).
The two-lane bridge connects
Gardner Avenue in Brooklyn and
47th Street in Queens. Metropolitan
Avenue will be used as an alternative
route while construction is
underway, according to DOT.
A DOT spokesperson said this
is routine bridge maintenance to
keep the structure in good condition
due to its age; the bridge was
built in 1903.
“Maintenance on the bridge
is an ongoing activity due to its
advanced age,” the DOT spokesperson
said in an email. “Work is
frequently scheduled for weekends
when traffic volumes are
the lightest and our work does
not interfere with local business
and industry.”
The construction may continue
past August if there are still necessary
repairs, according to the
DOT spokesperson.
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