QUEENS — A controversial Forest Hills elementary school teacher assigned to return to the classroom this fall after verbally and physically abusing students has been banned from a classroom yet again, the city said.
Department of Education officials said that although they approved Richard Parlini's return to P.S. 101 this fall, where his assignment to teach a first grade class provoked an outcry from concerned parents, Parlini never actually went into a classroom. He was instead assigned to administrative duties at the school, the DOE said.
The agency said it is working to find a permanent placement for Parlini, but would not elaborate.
The DOE said last week that it investigated and substantiated several complaints "of verbal abuse and corporal punishment" against Parlini within the past three years.
He was reassigned away from last December, fined $2,500 and ordered to attended a six-hour training course before being allowed to return to the school this fall to teach first grade.
RELATED STORIES:
► DOE Sends Abusive Teacher Back to Classroom, Angering Forest Hills Parents
► Principal Focuses on Emotional and Intellectual Development at P.S. 101
► P.S. 101 Celebrates its Centennial With Throwback Event
► Forest Hills School Collects Nearly 2,000 Pairs of Shoes for Needy Kids
A group of parents who have been fighting to remove Parlini from the school permanently said they met with school officials Tuesday to discuss the issue.
“Parents fear for the safety of their children due to Mr. Parlini's continued presence in the school,” Maria Kaufer of the P.S. 101 Parent's Association said in an email Tuesday night.
She also added that parents “are continuing to appeal to the DOE to quickly reassign Mr. Parlini to a different workplace away from children.”
Last week, dozens of parents rallied in front of the school to protest the reinstatement of the teacher.
"Ensuring the safety of all students is a top priority and we work with each school community to make sure all children have safe and supportive learning environments,” a spokesman for the DOE said in a statement.
Parlini did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.
