In a recent report made public in early September, Anastasia Coleman, Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District (SCI), states that multiple New York City Public Schools staff have been accused of using funds meant for homeless students to take personal trips with their children and grandchildren.
“While this series of incidents precedes the current administration, this kind of behavior is unacceptable, and all staff identified in this report are no longer employed by New York City Public Schools,” a spokesperson for the department said. “Our students in temporary housing deserve to have the supports they need, and when we were given the report from SCI, we acted immediately.”
The investigation began back in March 2019, when the office of the SCI received a complaint from someone about Wilson, saying that she was supposed to plan multiple out-of-town field trips for students facing homelessness. These activities were supposed to serve as “enrichment opportunities, or as incentives for improving attendance or other academic achievements” (“Letter from the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District to Hon. David C. Banks Regarding Investigation Findings,” 2023). The trips were also supposed to allow students to visit college campuses, but when investigators contacted the colleges listed on Wilson’s plans, the schools said they never made contact.
It was alleged that Wilson brought members of her family on some of these trips at the expense of students in temporary housing by forging permission slips in the names of students and encouraging 5 other employees to do the same. While some homeless students attended the trips, the staffers’ children took up valuable spots. According to Advocates for Children of New York, roughly one in nine students enrolled in public schools experienced homelessness last year.
Shaquieta Boyd, Joanne Castro, Mishawn Jack, Virgen Ramos, and Maria Sylvester, along with Linda Wilson, were named in the report. Wilson spoke with investigators with her attorney present and denied ever bringing any of her daughters on the trips. Through their attorneys, Boyd and Jack refused to speak with SCI investigators, citing their fifth amendment right. Castro initially told investigators that she would not speak with them without union representation, then resigned from the Department of Education (DOE).
In the report, Coleman recommended that the DOE should be reimbursed by Wilson and the others for the funds meant for homeless students. The NYC DOE said in a statement that the accusations in the report happened before the current administration took office. “All staff identified in this report are no longer employed by New York City Public Schools,” said spokeswoman Jenna Lyle. The DOE has not disclosed if anyone involved was disciplined or paid restitution.
