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The Daily News has reported that a criminal complaint has been made against a teacher at P.S. 70, The Max Schoenfeld School located at 1691 Weeks Ave, Bronx, NY 10457.
On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 48-year-old Norman Dunkley was arrested. Dunkley, a 23-year veteran science teacher at the Bronx elementary school, has been charged with sexually abusing and forcibly touching a female student. Initially, a complaint was made that the science teacher touched the breasts of four female students. The current charges are for an incident that occurred on April 26 when Dunkley was accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl.
Despite being arrested on Wednesday, the court released the teacher without bail. He is still allowed to go to the school but must avoid the victim. However, the school district has placed him on leave amid the allegations and, if convicted will terminate his employment.
Attorney contributor Laurence Banville helps victims of school sex abuse get the justice they deserve. As an experienced school sex abuse lawyer in the state of New York, he recently explained when a school could be held liable if an elementary teacher sexually abuses a student.
"Parents expect school administrators to take care of the wellbeing of their children during the school day. This legal and moral responsibility involves protecting them from a variety of avoidable threats, including sexual abuse. Recently, numerous reports have surfaced of school teachers and other school staff sexually abusing students. Teachers easily gain the trust and power through their positions to take advantage of the vulnerable children who look up to them."
"In order to prevent abuse from occurring in the first place, school officials must notice any symptoms of misconduct. Extensive background checks can help mitigate the risk of employing known sexual predators. School surveillance and a standard reporting system can also help reduce the risk of these dangers. However, when schools ignore reports of misconduct, these predators are given the opportunity to continue to abuse. Schools need a strong commitment to preventing abuse but neglecting the safety of the children can cause them to be held liable."
"Victims or the parents of those sexually abused by an elementary school teacher should contact an experienced school sex abuse attorney. Experienced attorneys are aware of any applicable state statutes of limitations and will be familiar with the steps required to establish if the school was negligent. Victims may be able to file a civil lawsuit and may be able to obtain compensation."
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