The investigation began in January, when a 15-year-old student said that Polayes touched her on her thigh and made her feel uncomfortable.
Polayes, who has worked for the Department of Education for 20 years, previously had been warned to refrain from touching students after several students complained he hugged or tickled them. In 1994, he was issued a strong and final warning. But in 2002, he was in trouble again at a school in Chelsea. The city tried to fire him, but an arbitrator determined it wasn't a firable offense and suspended without pay for one term.
Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard Condon recommended that Polayes be dismissed from his employment with the Department of Education and be made ineligible for future employment with the DOE. He also referred the matter to Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson for whatever action he deems appropriate.
In a statement, the DOE says Polayes will be reassigned, and it will try to terminate him again. Officials added, "It is unfortunate that it is so difficult to fire someone who obviously does not belong in the classroom."
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