Patchogue-Medford Students Voice Concerns in District

A majority of a child’s life is spent in a school, learning not only subjects like algebra or social studies, but also the fundamentals of their own identity and humanity. In order to do so, staff and faculty at any place of education provides more than what the class entails, from encouraging advice to emotional support.

In certain schools, however, there are growing concerns that such support and advice come in short supply. These concerns are visible in the Patchogue Medford School District on Long Island, New York.

Over the past several years, students have dealt with experiences that were deemed less than helpful and safe in their school environment than desired. Many of the issues that have been brought to light come from Patchogue Medford High School (PMHS).

To discuss issues such as a lack of sympathy from the guidance office, as well as racism in the high school, current and former students of Patchogue Medford held a virtual conference with Superintendent Donna Jones on June 6.

The meeting came after 2019 graduate, Alexus Seeger, sent an email on June 4 to Jones expressing her concerns over the issues she witnessed in her high school career.

“We all know the saying ‘Once a Raider, always a Raider,’” Seeger wrote. “And at this point in time I am not proud to be associated with our school."

There were a total of 8 attendees in the conference, including Jones and myself. All students had similar experiences and concerns over how the district was handling certain issues.

What seemed to be the most prominent issue, however, was guidance.

Helping a student body of over 2,000 students at PMHS, the guidance department, as any other guidance department, assists students both academically and emotionally. With such a history that exists in PMHS, however, guidance appears to be slacking.

Shannon Donnelly, a senior at PMHS, experienced the lack of sympathy first hand, when a student committed suicide.

Jackson Klein was a transgender student who took his life in November of 2018. Only rather than making a statement or holding a moment of silence shortly after his death, like the school has done for other passed students or events in the past (Sean Dixon and the Parkland shooting), PMHS Principal Randy Rusielewicz held a moment of silence several days after Klein’s death.

After the announcement and moment of silence was made, guest speakers came to the school to discuss suicide and ways to prevent. Donnelly remembered that students were asked if they knew Jackson, to which one responded yes. But instead of discussing suicide and its overall affect on a community, Donnelly recalled that the student was almost blamed by the speaker for not noticing the signs Jackson portrayed.

Donnelly had to excuse herself from the class, as it reminded her of a disturbing event she witnessed in the past. Donnelly stated she was crying and essentially breaking down. After her negative experience, Donnelly was not followed up by any counselor at the school to make sure she was okay.

It was only weeks after Donnelly’s instance that she was made aware that there were psychologists at the school that could have offered much needed assistance to Donnelly when she needed it. Alexus Seeger and other students in the meeting shared the same concern, stating that they were not aware of the psychologists until their last year of high school.

After hearing Donnelly’s words, Jones proceeded to show support and concern that guidance was not attending to student’s needs, nor letting students know where they can get help from other resources. Jones did note that there are social workers who work for the district in another office, should students need help. A majority of students in the meeting, though, have only heard of those sources when Jones mentioned it and not before.

A junior at PMHS, seeked assistance from guidance to live with a different parent after experiencing trouble at home. Her guidance counselor ignored her request and contacted her home instead making matters only worse at the time being. The student, who now lives where she wants to, stated that she left guidance with more problems than when she went in.

Amy Vera, a 2017 graduate, cited similar experiences and instances when she was a student at PMHS. Vera, who is now pursuing her Masters in social work, states that what she is learning in her classes and from reading her materials, the knowledge she has gained is different from what was being practiced in the guidance department when she was a student, and still today.

Along with helping a student emotionally, guidance is counted on to make sure that a student succeeds in school, while still ensuring that the health of the student is at its best. For Jessica Depoo, this was not the case.

Depoo, a 2019 graduate, shared her experience with her guidance counselor on the topic of making her schedule for senior year. For her mental health, Depoo chose not to take an AP course that was known for causing stress and worry in students in the past.

Depoo’s guidance counselor, however, called her lazy for not wanting to take the AP course, despite Depoo explaining her circumstances and concern for her mental health. During her senior year, Depoo recalled having multiple panic attacks and stress, which would have been avoided should her guidance counselor offer alternatives or other help.

“I sat there feeling mortified and embarrassed that someone who should have helped me called me lazy,” Depoo said.

Other students have had issues with creating their schedules, in terms of what level of difficulty in courses they can handle, to not being completely informed of when particular classes are to make a schedule that satisfies the students’ needs.

PMHS has had issues concerning AP courses and schedules in the past. One prominent event was the “AP Meeting” held between AP students and former Superintendent Michael Hynes in early 2018. Hynes had expressed his disapproval of the AP program stating it was a waste of money and too hard on students, which indirectly insulted AP students, who chose to take these courses.

While Hynes had expressed his disinterest in the College Board and AP courses, counselors, such as Depoo’s, seem to take an opposite perspective, causing inconsistent opinions on what is best for students.

The discussion on AP courses leads to the discussion on college plans. This step in a student’s life is where the counselor plays a heavy role. For Alexus Seeger, her counselor was less than encouraging.

Seeger had discussed with her counselor that she wanted to attend New York University. Her counselor only responded with “Are you sure? How are you going to pay for it?”

Despite the lack of encouragement, Seeger is currently attending New York University with hopes to graduate in May 2023.

With the events from Depoo, Donnelly, and Seeger, what Superintendent Jones thought was the most crucial concern in the guidance department was the lack of trust, emotional support and compassion.

Apart from the problems students have with guidance, other students have raised the concern of multiple instances of racism in Patchogue Medford.

Donnelly noted that there have been security guards who have made fun of black students for their hair. She also noted that black students have been pointed out by the guards for no reason at all.

Angelica Harriott, a 2019 graduate, experienced this racial issue first-hand. Harriott was a member of the Class of 2019 leadership board, only she felt she was on the board because of her race. Harriott was the only black student on the board, and she felt that none of her ideas were taken into consideration.

“I felt I was the token black person,” said Harriott.

Harriott then went on to explain that even in her influential position on the 2019 board, she was not able to accomplish all that she wanted in her high school years.

“There was a point where I didn’t know if I was doing enough to represent students of color because I didn’t do much before,” said Harriott. “I’m sitting here wondering what I could’ve done more.”

Jones did mention how a student came to her with the same concern and she is currently addressing it.

As a black women in a high office in the school setting, Jones was able to empathize with Angelica, stating that she herself faced moments of discrimination and prejudice. Jones mentioned how it was important that members of the community, parents and students alike, need to be educated on diversity. Whether that comes in the form of disciplinary action or through a special program is up to the community.

“You’re either going to learn the easy way, or the hard way,” Jones said. “Either way, you’re going to learn.”

Jones explained that diversity is needed in a community to bring perspective, and in order to create and welcome new perspectives, there has to be a safe space where discussions can happen about things like racial diversity in schools.

With the recent Black Lives Matter protests, the school district has taken action to acknowledge the issue of racism and police brutality in the United States. It was announced on June 10 that the high school football field will be lit June 12, to commemorate George Floyd and other victims of racial based violence.

“We also publicly denounce racism and discrimination of any form in our school system,” read the facebook post. “We pledge to educate students and staff on the issues that have given rise to the Black Lives Matter Movement…”

However, even after the announcement was made, math teacher Brendan Crane tweeted a statement that made former and current students upset.

Shortly after, the account released a statement saying it has been hacked, and has been deactivated.

Jesse Pineda, a 2019 graduate, stated "As an educator, you must advocate for every single one of your students no matter what. For Mr. Crane to publicly tweet such insensitive statements creates a fearful and stressful environment for any black student who enters his classroom."

Pineda also posted a tweet in response to viewing the tweet, saying "I don't think any kid is gonna feel safe in his classroom..."

Superintendent Jones released a statement stating that the tweets made by Crane are under investigation.

To address the concerns of racism, including the tweet, Jones stated that she will be talking to her administration to discuss these concerns and to create a safer environment for the community.

Along with talking to her staff, Jones also expressed interest in making a podcast of addressing racial affairs in the community.

She has already made one episode with a panel of members of Patchogue Medford School District. The next episode Jones plans on making is with the students from the initial meeting. These podcasts, according to Jones, will be made to have a discussion on a much needed issue that reaches the broader Patchogue Medford community.

Superintendent Jones expressed clearly that she wants to bring positive change and perspectives in the community.

“It is very liberating to do the right thing as opposed to the wrong thing."

The statements and information mentioned during the meeting came from Dr. Jones and the students of Patchogue Medford. Though I am a former student of Patchogue Medford and attended the meeting, I was only there to record the meeting and take notes.