NEWBURGH-The hearings to terminate Newburgh special education teacher Richard Desiderio continued Wednesday with testimony from a district principal and the mother of one of the students he is charged with touching inappropriately.
The Newburgh Enlarged School District wants to terminate Desiderio on 14 charges, including touching students inappropriately, though not sexually. David Shaw, the school district’s attorney, is representing the district at the hearings. The latest incident occurred May 5, 2023; the district suspended Desiderio four months later, on full pay.
Matthew Bergeron, the NYSUT attorney representing Desiderio, questioned at length Robert Glowacki, the principal of Horizons on Hudson Elementary for the majority of the time Desiderio taught there. Bergeron repeatedly asked Glowacki if he recommended professional development or training following concerns about Desiderio. And Glowacki repeatedly answered no.
Bergeron called upon Aneisha Richardson, mother of one of the students Desiderio is accused of touching inappropriately. She described her daughter, identified only by the first initials of her first and last names, as shy, sensitive and affectionate.
When Bergeron asked her about Desiderio hugging her daughter, Richardson said, “I had no problem with that.” Richardson said her daughter improved academically in Desiderio’s class.
Bergeron next interviewed Debra Bouley, a retired teacher and former school board member for the school district. Bouley testified that teachers, administrators and staff regularly have contact with elementary school students, and that young students often initiate the contact.
Desiderio claims this suspension, as well as three others, is in retaliation for him revealing discrepancies in attendance and grading for Newburgh Free Academy student athletes in 2016.
Hearings on suspensions are usually held behind closed doors but these hearings are open to the public at the request of Desiderio. A third hearing will be held March 7. Independent arbiter Haydee Rosario will decide on the validity of the charges within 30 days of the closing of hearings.
