Angry Parents Blast School After Recent Gun Incident
By Debbie Cohen

Sen. Kruger demanded additional security at I.S. 78 meeting. Debbie Cohen

An agitated group of parents attended a meeting last week at Roy H. Mann Intermediate School 78 to express their concerns over a recent incident when two students were suspended after they brought a gun to school.

I.S. 78 principal Jennifer Canton, Region 6 school superintendent Glory Buckery and Irene Fortunato, regional Instructional superintendent, listened as dozens of parents shouted, "We need a change at this school."

A few parents told of a purported hit list naming eighth grade students and some teachers as targets, but Canton and Richard Glover, director of School Security/Emergency Management, both appeared to be stunned, claiming they knew nothing about it. But Glover promised, "It will be investigated and we will not take this lightly."

The principal told parents that she worries about the 1,500 students all the time. Canton said approval was granted last month, before the gun incident, to install 23 video cameras in the building. Other enforcement measures she listed include: no cell phones and a contract that will be issued to all sixth and seventh graders reminding them of the rules and regulations of the school.

Tisch Sciulara, of Bergen Beach, said four older boys recently attacked her 14-year-old son near the school. She objects to the cell phone ban. "My son needs to carry his cell phone in case of an emergency, like the day he got roughed up and escaped an attack with a butcher knife due to intervention by 63rd precinct officers," she said.

Sciulara said that she obtained an order of protection for her son against the assailants, but claimed one boy still attends the school and passes comments to her son daily. "My son lives in fear," she said.

State Senator Carl Kruger, who soon after the student gun incident called for increased security measures at I.S. 78, blasted the principal and the Region 6 panel for letting the school become a disgrace. "Teachers are walking out and kids are coming to school with knives, guns and BB guns and parents send them to school with a hope and a prayer that all will go well. This school has fallen short," he said.

Kruger feels that drastic changes are needed, so the school can turn around to become a safe learning environment again.

Councilman Lew Fidler wanted to know why it took the gun incident to bring everyone together, when issues at the school should have been addressed a long time ago. "No control, no respect for parents or teachers; the tone of this school has to change now."

This renewed demand for changes at I.S. 78 follows the suspension of two sixth graders on March 29 for bringing a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun to school. The gun allegedly belonged to Roger Stewart, 47, of Sterling Place, a boyfriend of one of the suspended students, who was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Eighth grade Dean Claudia Cohen said the two students will never be permitted to come back to the school again.

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