14 The Courier sun • JUNE 5, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com Queens teacher arrested for having sex with a student BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com @ericjankiewicz A teacher at Grover Cleveland High School is accused of raping a 16-year-old student numerous times in a yearlong relationship, according to officials. Joy Morsi, 39, of Massapequa, Long Island, was arrested on June 2 and charged the next day with 20 counts of third-degree rape, 20 counts of third-degree criminal sexual act and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, officials said. If convicted, Morsi could be sent to prison for four years. She did not give a statement at her June 3 arraignment. “We find these claims disturbing and reprehensible and she will remain reassigned — far from any student and the school — pending a criminal investigation,” said Department of Education spokesman David Pena. “We will work closely with the school to ensure they are given any needed support.” The victim is a wrestler at the Ridgewood school, according to the Daily News, and the relationship started on June 10, 2013, when Morsi lured the student into a secluded closet and exposed herself to the teen. She also allegedly sent the student emails asking if he was a virgin. Things continued until recently when the victim told authorities about the affair two weeks ago after Morsi became jealous that he was taking a girl to prom, the Daily News reported. Morsi had sex with the student in the basement and other areas of the school during their relationship, according to District Attorney Richard Brown. “This case is particularly disturbing because the defendant is a teacher and schools should be safe havens for children,” Brown said. “Instead, this defendant is accused of sexually preying upon one of her students during rendezvous all over the school.” Morsi’s next court date is June 23 and her bail is set at $25,000. Sen. Avella allocates $200K to renovate school auditorium BY LIAM LA GUERE months. Avella made the announcement of the lguerre@queenscourier.com/@liamlaguerre allocation during a PTA meeting on May 29. State Sen. Tony Avella allocated $200,000 for “I have long advocated for increased school funding repairs and electrical upgrades to the auditorium of and I am very glad to be able to bring resources P.S. 26 in Fresh Meadows. back to the schools in my district,” Avella said. P.S. 26 submitted a request for the money to “Our students deserve the best educational environment Avella’s office earlier this year for the necessary with proper accommodations. And since our upgrades since the school stays open year-round and shares the space with P.S. 224 during the summer teachers already do such a great job teaching our students, it gives me great pleasure to allocate this much-needed funding for repairs.” FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS AT QUEENS LIBRARIES By PAULINA TAM Twenty-two Queens Library locations, in partnership with the Department of Education, will be serving free summer meals to children and teens 18 years and under starting from June 27 to August 29. Bagged lunches will be served every Monday through Friday between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. and each will generally include a fresh sandwich, fruit, milk and sometimes a salad, said library spokeswoman Joanna King. “The library is an open public space and we want to attract people to come to the library,” King said. “While they’re here they can have free access to other programs. The Queens Library also has a very robust summer reading program and we want to encourage people to get involved with that so they can be better prepared for the academic program in the fall.” There is no application, qualification or ID necessary to receive a free meal. Children and teens are recommended to arrive early to get lunches while supplies last. The Queens Library is just one of many agencies collaborating with the DOE, and interested parties can call 311 to get a full list of participating locations. Listed below are the participating Queens Library locations: 312 Beach 54 Street, Arverne 14-01 Astoria Boulevard, Astoria 117-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Baisley Park 218-13 Linden Boulevard, Cambria Heights 1637 Central Avenue, Far Rockaway 41-17 Main Street, Flushing 202-05 Hillside Avenue, Hollis 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica 134-26 225th Street, Laurelton 98-30 57th Avenue, Lefrak City 37-44 21st Street, Long Island City 40-20 Broadway, Long Island City 92-24 Rockaway Boulevard, Ozone Park 158-21 Jewel Avenue, Pomonok (Flushing) 103-34 Lefferts Boulevard, Richmond Hill 169-09 137th Avenue, Rochdale Village 116-15 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Park 204-01 Hollis Avenue, South Hollis 108-41 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, South Jamaica 43-06 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside 85-41 Forest Parkway, Woodhaven 54-22 Skillman Avenue, Woodside THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre State Senator Tony Avella will allocate $200,000 for repairs and electrical upgrades to P.S. 26’s auditorium. Photo courtesy Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News Teacher Joy Morsi (center), leaves Queens Criminal Court with her lawyer Virginia Lopreto (right) and Empire Bail Bonds President Michelle Esquenazi (left) after her arraignment on June 3.
SC06052014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above