News

NEW YORK, NY January 13, 2006 —Administration for Children's Services Commissioner John Maddingly says it's too soon to know whether Nixzmary Brown's school reported her abuse promptly. But Chancellor Joel Klein says officials followed correct procedures. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

Nixzmary Brown and three of her siblings attended PS 256, where officials say they all had poor attendance records. By January of last year, Nixzmary had been absent twenty times. The school called the state’s child abuse hotline and an investigation was launched. The girl returned to class but she was absent again that spring. Another report of educational neglect was filed in May – which was later unsubstantiated.

The Administration for Children’s Services says it accepted the mother’s excuse was that she kept Nixzmary at home because she was overwhelmed. ACS also says the school expressed concerns that Nixzmary was malnourished and ACS addressed the issue with the mother.

But attendance problems continued last Fall, leading the school to contact ACS again in December when the eye injury was reported. School staff also tried unsuccessfully on 2 occasions to visit the home.