An NYC principal and his spouse, accused masterminds behind a bilingual instructor scandal uncovered by The Publish, have raked in additional than $500,000 in wage for the previous two years — whereas the overseas educators they recruited are forbidden to go to their households again house in the event that they wish to hold their jobs.
Some 20 lecturers from the Dominican Republic have been barred from touring exterior the US with out dropping their well-paying Division of Training jobs and enrollment in a city-paid Grasp’s Diploma program amid a federal probe of Bronx principal Emmanuel Polanco, his spouse, instructor Sterling Baez, and a bunch of Dominican-American directors who allegedly exploited the newcomers.
The Division of Homeland Safety has given the lecturers, who misplaced their authentic visas within the turmoil, a “Continued Presence” standing, which is supposed for victims of human trafficking to stay within the US as potential witnesses to crimes. Beneath the principles, they will’t journey exterior the nation and return pending the probe, lecturers informed The Publish this week.
“The final we heard was that they have been nonetheless investigating,” one stated. “Generally I’m wondering when that is going to finish, as a result of it’s been two years already, and we’re nonetheless ready.”
“We don’t know what’s taking place.” stated one other Dominican instructor who was warned she would possibly lose her job and guarded standing if she visited the DR when her mom underwent most cancers surgical procedure.
“We’re in limbo.”
A 3rd instructor, working in a Bronx highschool, can’t go to his household within the DR, although his spouse and three youngsters have come to the US twice to see him within the final two years.
“No person tells us something,” he stated. “How lengthy do we now have to attend?”
All three lecturers requested for anonymity, saying supervisors warned them to not converse to reporters. However they need their plight recognized.
Homeland Safety launched a probe in November 2022 amid complaints that Polanco, principal of JHS 80, led a shake-down scheme to pressure the lecturers to lease overpriced rooms leased by ADASA, a fraternal group of Dominican-American directors — and threaten them with deportation in the event that they balked.
The DOE yanked Polanco from JHS 80. His spouse Sterling Baez, a instructor at PS 595 within the Bronx, was additionally eliminated when it emerged she personally bagged greater than $3,000 a month from three lecturers informed to share a Marion Avenue house owned by Polanco’s late mother.
Neither has been charged with a criminal offense. They didn’t return requests for remark.
Polanco and Baez haven’t returned to their colleges, however stay on town payroll – gathering a mixed $245,850 in Fiscal Yr 2023 and $311,303 in FY 2024, information present. Polanco’s present wage is $185,112; Baez’’ is $95,365.
Polanco, as first vice chairman of ADASA, was a pet of then-Chancellor David Banks, who praised the group – dormant because the scandal erupted – for “getting stuff performed,” utilizing Mayor Adams’ mantra.
However disturbing particulars quickly emerged.
ADASA put 11 lecturers in a cramped two-family home on Baychester Avenue within the Bronx, charging 10 of them $1,450 a month every, and one $1,300 a month for single rooms with a shared kitchen and tub, The Publish reported.
The entire $15,800 in income would web an $8,900 month-to-month revenue over what ADASA paid to lease the duplex.
Daniel Calcaño, an ADASA treasurer and former assistant principal, rounded up lease funds of some $4,500 a month from three lecturers and one partner in a 3 -bedroom house on Pilgrim Avenue – as soon as banging on their doorways at 11 pm.
Calcaño, nonetheless on town payroll, makes $151,409 a 12 months.
Calcaño, Polanco and Baez, have all been “reassigned to central administrative roles,” the DOE stated, refusing to specify their duties, if any. “Reassigned” is DOE lingo for rubber-roomed, which implies they do little or nothing whereas beneath investigation.
5 Dominican lecturers have given up their DOE jobs in frustration, and gone again to the DR completely. The 20 remaining have since discovered housing on their very own. They get DOE salaries of $66,000 to $75,000, plus additional time.
In addition they attend Metropolis School for a Grasp’s Diploma in training – paid by the DOE – which may result in certification and everlasting standing as working immigrants.
A spokeswoman for Homeland Safety Investigations wouldn’t reply questions in regards to the probe: “Resulting from legislation enforcement sensitivities, HSI is unable to verify or deny the existence of an open investigation.”
