Probe Bx. hell JHS & ‘bully’ principal: Tish

Public Advocate Letitia James is demanding the city “take real steps” to deal with the Bronx school that The Post revealed as plagued by poor discipline and coverups — and where a student accused the principal of shoving and harassing him.

JHS/MS 80 has come under fire for dismal test scores and allegations that its principal downplayed violent incidents.

“Any instance of violence in our schools is unacceptable, but any at the hands of a principal is deeply alarming,” James said on Sunday.

“Our schools are supposed to be safe spaces where children are cared for and educated, not places where they are bullied and harmed,” she continued.

“It is important that the DOE take real steps to address student safety, including accountability and training for staff and . . . input from students and parents.”

Her remarks came the same day The Post (inset) published student Jeremie Francis’ allegations that Principal Emmanuel Polanco shoved him against a stairway wall and jabbed him in the chest with his finger.

Polanco also allegedly shouted in the boy’s face: “I know you wanna hit me — hit me!”

Francis — who, despite being just 14 is 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds — said he told the principal he didn’t want to hit him. He said that Polanco later had him handcuffed for asking questions about a fire drill.

Francis’ lawyer, Todd Crawford, filed a notice of claim with the Comptroller’s Office in May seeking $2 million in damages.

He said that he sent a letter to both Mayor de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña about the harsh treatment but that neither has responded.

The principal did not respond to a request for comment. The DOE declined to comment and did not respond to a question about why they didn’t respond to Crawford.

City Council spokeswoman Robin Levine said Sunday that the entire body is “continuing to look into this.”

DOE spokesman Douglas Cohen said, “Allegations against Mr. Polanco were referred for investigation and the case was closed. We have detailed protocols and procedures in place to ensure complaints of misconduct are appropriately reported and addressed.”

City Councilman Mark Treyger (D-Brooklyn), the new Education Committee Chairman, called for a probe into the matter Sunday.

“These are serious allegations which must be investigated,” he said. “No one — not students, teachers, staff, parents or guardians — should feel stymied in their efforts to report a potential incident of bullying or aggression.”

Any instance of violence . . . is unacceptable, but any at the hands of a principal is deeply alarming. — Public Advocate Letitia James