Officials Mum On Advocate’s ‘N’ Bomb
By SASHA AUSTRIE
Local education and elected officials have been mum in the week since the news broke about a meeting where the Family District Advocate of School District 29 used the “N Word” when referring to unruly parents and encouraged members of a PTA executive Board to attempt to exclude “them” from school meetings.Ron Barfield was recorded on May 27 at a parent association executive board meeting at PS 134 in Hollis, using the word “nigger” on a number of occasions. The meeting was held to craft bylaws per Chancellor Joel Klein’s regulations.
Barfield has held his post since October 2007 and he is one of 32 family district advocates throughout the City. A family district advocate’s responsibility is to assist parents if they still have questions after consulting with their parent coordinators or principals.
While the executive board was discussing the implementation of standing committees, Barfield dismissed the concept as a divisive measure.
“We don’t want no community liaison, no ‘standing’ voting on your board; keep the niggers out,” the recording states. “All those niggers ain’t going to be voting and y’all going to debate and divide up the board.”
The Department of Education has initiated an investigation into the matter. Calls this week to the District 29 CEC president, the Superintendent for District 29 and Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica), a former School Board president, all went unreturned. Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), who has been a staunch advocate of eliminating the “N Word” from the language, declined to comment.
Felicia Galy, former vice president of the PA and Frances Vicioso, former recording secretary, confirm that the voice on the tape is Barfield.
“I actually was shocked when he said it,” said Galy. “He is a black man in a high position. I was just shocked.”
Vicioso, who had not attended the meeting, said she was “dumbfounded” when she heard the recording.
Barfield makes numerous references to “niggers” during the almost hour long recording.
At one point, the board is discussing when to host executive and general membership meetings. One board member said to continue the meetings on Wednesday, but Barfield suggests Friday.
“Hold it on Thursday or Friday,” Barfield said. “Hold it on Fridays because niggers don’t like to come out on Fridays. That’s the truth, cause I ain’t coming out to nothing.”
After Barfield’s statement, a chuckle rises from some in the room.
Matthew Mittenthal, a DOE spokesman, said Barfield’s alleged statements could land him on probation, transferred or demoted. He said the most extreme would be termination.
“Hurtful, offensive language has no place in our schools,” Mittenthal said. “We are referring these allegations to the Special Commissioner of Investigation.”
Galy said she has no faith in the DOE’s investigation.
“They basically cover for each other,” she said. Galy said her previous complaints to the DOE about the PA’s dysfunction had fallen on deaf ears.
“What would be hopeful is that we don’t have these types of people in our schools,” she said.
In the recording, after the overhaul of the bylaws, the executive board unanimously votes to adopt the new amended version, without the vote of the general membership.
“Please make sure that I get a copy, you keep a copy and let everybody else beg you for a copy,” Barfield said.
Chancellor’s regulation requires the bylaws to be available at every meeting and to members upon reasonable request.
Just after the school bell rings signifying the end of a period, Barfield closes the meeting with “Keep the niggers out.”
Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 123.