Mamaroneck, NEW YORK

This is public education, folks.

March 20, 2008 - The husband of a guidance counselor at the Hommocks Middle School was arrested and charged with aggravated harassment, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly making a harassing telephone call to one of the new counselors who was hired this year at the school.

Roger Denhoff, 43, is the husband of Elizabeth Denhoff who has been on administrative leave since last October. A previous story said that she and another guidance counselor at the middle school were “administratively reassigned." No reason given, and the union claims the reassignment is unrelated to a grievance filed on behalf of the counselors protesting a requirement that they attend the sixth grade community dinner on October 25, which is outside of the contractual work day of 8 am to 4 pm and something the counselors had not agreed to do.

The district was in the middle of contract negotiations at the time.

Before his arrest, Mamaroneck Police had Roger Denhoff under survelliance for many weeks after numerous calls to the new guidance counselor, including one on February 27 in which he reportedly said, “I’m coming after you soon, bitch.” Mr. Denhoff is also alleged to have made two harassing, but not threatening, calls to the Hommocks principal, Dr. Seth Weitzman on March 11 and March 14. Denhoff was spotted at a pay phone at the time when the calls were made.

Denhoff was arrested in the parking lot of Mamaroneck High School.

DECEMBER MEETING In December, 100 teachers in black t-shirts attended the Mamaroneck School Board meeting where the two "reassigned" counselors were discussed. Superintendent Fries explained the disciplinary process and explained that it could go on for as long as 1½ years. Until that time, the school district will be paying double salaries for the two positions.
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Letter that went out to parents in November 2007. PDF