cover 1999-2002 - SCI

In addition, we exposed the failure of officials at several schools to report
incidents of sexual abuse. One case in particular, involving the failure of officials at CS
66X to report the sexual assault of a young girl, attracted considerable media attention.
The CS 66 investigation came on the heels of another highly publicized investigation into
teacher Milton McFarlane, who was accused of sodomizing a young boy. The case
awakened public outrage when it came to light that a complaint against the teacher
received by this office in 1998 had been referred to the Chancellor’s Office of Special
Investigations, which in turn neglected to conduct a thorough investigation.
In June 2001, Special Commissioner Stancik appeared before the City Council to
urge passage of a school crime reporting bill. The matter was subsequently referred to
the City Charter Revision Commission, which placed it on the November 2001 ballot.
Voters subsequently approved an amendment to the New York City Charter requiring
public school employees to report crimes against students to the police and to SCI.
To date, however, the rules needed to establish the reporting procedures have not
been promulgated. Thus, the City Charter revision, as a practical matter, has yet to take
effect.
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