PTA HEAD OUT
B’klyn parent had put blackface pic in invite
THE LEADER of a Park Slope PTA who was accused of racism after using photos of performers in blackface has resigned, Education Department officials said.
The PTA of Public School 118, the Maurice Sendak Community School, grabbed headlines and prompted an official probe in February after PTA co-president Nadine Baldasare (photo) used the offensive images in an invite to a speakeasy-themed PTA fundraiser.
Education Department officials confirmed Thursday that Baldasare, 45, resigned later that month amid a department investigation of the matter.
The Facebook announcement of the fund-raiser harking back to the days of Prohibition and “speakeasy” cabarets was deleted on Jan. 21.
Baldasare didn’t return calls for comment, but she told the Daily News in February that her use of the blackface image was an “error.”
“There are no acceptable excuses for how this happened (it was late, I was tired, I was rushing, etc.) because no excuse can change what I know to be true,” a horrified Baldasare wrote in an apology posted on Facebook. “My privilege as a white person requires that I be conscientious, engaged and informed when representing our community and promoting events.” The PTA’s use of blackface images prompted a letter of censure from the New York State PTA umbrella group and led to vicious infighting among PS 118 parents. The new PS 118 PTA leader, Park Slope mom Nina Schroeren, declined to comment on the issue. PS 118 Principal Elizabeth Garraway didn’t respond to a request for comment.
A whistleblower who reported the blackface invite to city officials called for funding to provide training to the entire school regarding its “persistent and invasive culture of racism.”
Such training hasn’t been provided, but Education Department spokesman Doug Cohen said every school in District 15, including PS 118, has a diversity committee and representatives of those committees will meet with District 15 Superintendent Anita Skop at the end of this month.
“The superintendent conducted a thorough investigation and held several meetings with the PTA, parents and the principal over the past several weeks to discuss this serious incident and address any concerns,” Cohen said.