New Ro Schools President: The District Didn't Know About Child Abuse Before Arrest

In the wake of the arrest of Jose Martinez on charges of child abuse, the New Rochelle School District is holding community meetings to discuss the incident.

At Tuesday's regular school board meeting, President Sara Richmond said in a statement delivered at the start of Tuesday's meeting that the district did not know ahead of the arrest of the alleged crime.

"Despite reports to the contrary," she said, "the board wants to assure the community that we had no knowledge of the circumstances reported by law enforcement prior to our notification of Mr. Martinez's arrest last week.

"No board member was ever contacted by any parent of the alleged victim or individual with any complaints of this nature against this administrator prior to his arrest or up to the present time," Richmond said.

"As parents, community members and elected officials, the board has no interest in protecting an individual who may have attempted to cover up the commission of a crime against any of our children," she said.

Jose Martinez, 38, who abruptly resigned his position as assistant principal at Jefferson Elementary School March 11, was taken into custody at his home in Brentwood, NY, Thursday.

Martinez, a former administrative dean at Isaac E. Young Middle School, is alleged to have engaged in an ongoing course of manual and oral sex with a 14-year-old student in his office during after-school hours from March or April 2010 through June of 2010.

He was charged with second-degree criminal sexual act, an D felony, and is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

The district will continue to provide support services for students, staff members or family members "for as long as they may need it," Richmond said.

"We also are members of the communtiy and so as we see you in the supermarkets, churches, synagogues and athletic fields of New Rochelle," she said, "please feel free to share your thoughts and feelings about what we can all agree has been a deep betrayal."

Richmond said the isolated incident "must prompt a review of all our policies related to ensuring the safest environment we can for all the children of New Rochelle."

She said the district is also aware of the need to provide guidance for parents who may have to explain the alleged crimes to young children.

"This is a task that none of us would have expected to undertake, but we are committed to utilizing whatever resources are necessary to support parents at this very difficult time," Richmond said.

The Journal News reported that Martinez appeared in New Rochelle City Court Tuesday. He will next appear in court Monday.

A community meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Isaac E. Young Middle School, 270 Centre Ave.