THE BRONX (PIX11)—
Teachers, parents and support staff were all voicing outrage Tuesday over a pervert principal who's allowed to keep his job after making disgusting sexual remarks to people whose paychecks depend on his approval. They say it's a Department of Education double-standard that basically got Principal John Chase a free pass."Chase must go!" were one of many chants heard outside Bronxdale High School where protestors gathered Tuesday.
An art teacher who didn't want his name used for fear of retribution described what was happening inside the brand new High School.
"He made comments about a female victim's breasts. Wanted her to stick them out more to make him feel good. This is insane, we are outraged.but the teacher wanted to let parents know about Principal John Chase, the $130,000 a year leader of Bronxdale High School and married father of 3 who has made many sexually inappropriate remarks and gets what amounts to little more than a slap on the wrist."
Eve Rittles, a secretary at Christopher Columbus High School, where Bronxdale is housed summed it up. "As far as I cam see, there's no punishment at all. A letter in the file and some sensitivity training is nothing."
Rittles helped a fellow secretary when she filed a complaint about her boss, Chase. "For this to happen enrages me," she said.
We spoke with one of the secretaries who filed a complaint and needed to leave her position behind to escape Chase's abuse. She got no help from the DoE to find a new position after filing her complaint. But she knew she had to leave when just weeks after Chase became principal he started abusing her while admiring a new copy machine.
"It even has a hole in it where you can stick your ____ in and get a ____ ___," she told investigators.
According to the Department of ED though, this was not sexual harrassment, even though these women, who make about $35,000 a year, reported directly to Chase.
Sonia Ossorio is the Director of the New York office of NOW, and was contacted by numerous workers at Bronxdale. "We really feel they were working in a hostile working environment. John Chase cannot lead a high school."
And what's worse, according to those who work here--is that Chase's free pass amounts to a double standard.
"If a teacher did this, he'd be fired and stocking shelves in a department store. A Principal did it and he's still in the building. It's a joke," said the art teacher who's close friend was one of the women harassed by Chase.
Chase gets to keep his job. But after today's rally and pressure from parents and lawmakers, that may not be a position that is set in stone.
--- Follow Kirsten Cole on Twitter @colekirstin
