Disney World Trips Meant for Homeless N.Y.C. Students Used By School Employees Instead: Report
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09/17/2024 08:41 PM
The report was completed in January 2023, and first made public on Monday, Sept. 9
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Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 2022A new report from the special commissioner of investigations for the New York City School District alleges that multiple school employees went on Disney World trips meant for homeless students.
The report claims that the office of Anastasia Coleman received a complaint in March 2019 indicating that Linda Wilson, the regional manager for Queen Students in Temporary Housing (STH), brought members of her family on "multiple-day, out-of-town field trips" paid by grants, that were meant to "serve as enrichment opportunities, or as incentives for improving attendance or other academic achievements' for homeless students."
Wilson allegedly used an outside vendor to book "busing, food, lodging, and all other itinerary items" trips to various locations, including Disney World in Florida, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, instead of through the New York City Department of Education because "there is less oversight of community-based organizations."
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Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 2014She and five other STH staff members — Program Manager Shaquieta Boyd, Family Assistant Joanne Castro, Family Assistant Mishawn Jack, Family Assistant Virgen Ramos, and Community Coordinator Maria Sylvester — allegedly went on the trips with their children, grandchildren and partners.
"Wilson would determine which staff members could attend the trip, assign students to each staff member to chaperone during the trip, then fill the spots allegedly assigned for those students with family members of the staff," the report claims, noting that trips took place from 2016 to 2019.
The report further alleges that Wilson and the staff members would then "complete permission slips using the information of homeless students, then sign off on the paperwork as the parents of those students."
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The EPCOT theme park at Disney World in 2022Coleman ended her report by calling for the six individuals to be fired and asking the New York City Department of Education to "seek reimbursement for all expenses incurred by the DOE on the part of those who wrongly benefitted from these actions."
Although the report was completed in January 2023, it was first made public on Monday, Sept. 9.
Related: Walt Disney World Drops Bid to Dismiss Wrongful Death Lawsuit by Widower Who Subscribed to Disney+
The special commissioner's office told NPR that "it is the general practice of [the special commissioner of investigation] to withhold publication of our reports while administrative actions are pending."
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Vehicles pass the entrance to the Walt Disney World theme park and resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009According to the Associated Press, citing New York City Department of Education spokesperson Jenna Lyle, "All staff identified in this report are no longer employed by New York City Public Schools."
Wilson told the New York Post that she was not fired from her position but "retired." She also denied bringing her two daughters on the trips and called the investigation from the special commissioner's office "a witch hunt."
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PEOPLE reached out to the New York City Department of Education, New York State Department of Education and Disney, but did not immediately hear back.
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