Two school employees in New York and New Jersey are facing criminal charges for separate incidents involving disturbing misconduct on school premises.
Giovanni Impellizzeri, a 27-year-old school custodian in Vineland, New Jersey, pleaded guilty Monday to multiple charges, including official misconduct and possession of child sexual abuse material. His actions, described by prosecutors as “extremely disturbing,” included contaminating cafeteria food and utensils with bodily fluids, such as urine and feces, and spraying bleach on food intended for students.
The investigation began in October 2023 after anonymous tips alerted authorities to videos posted on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. They depicted Impellizzeri allegedly engaging in explicit acts on school premises, including using bread and kitchen utensils inappropriately before returning them to be served to children. In one instance, he was seen urinating on pillows and spraying bleach into a container of cucumbers that were later served in the school cafeteria.
Further investigation revealed that Impellizzeri was in possession of child sexual abuse material, including explicit videos involving toddlers and infants. He admitted in court that his actions were intended to harm students. Impellizzeri’s sentencing is scheduled for March 28, and he faces up to eight years in prison.
The Upper Deerfield Township Board of Education, which employed Impellizzeri since 2019, worked with health officials to sanitize the school thoroughly. While health experts concluded that the risk of infectious disease transmission was minimal, parents expressed outrage and demanded stricter safety protocols.
In a separate incident, a teacher at PS 723 in the Bronx was arrested after allegedly exposing himself and engaging in lewd behavior in front of students. Dana Barschdorf, 44, is accused of inserting his genitals into a Lysol container while in a classroom. The school serves children with autism in kindergarten through fourth grade.
The alleged incident occurred on the morning of January 13, prompting staff members to report Barschdorf to authorities. He was charged with two counts of attempted lewdness and has been reassigned pending an investigation by the New York City Department of Education (DOE). A DOE spokesperson condemned the alleged behavior as “completely unacceptable.”
The two incidents have sent shockwaves through their respective communities, prompting parents to demand greater accountability and transparency from school administrations. Advocates are calling for stricter background checks, enhanced monitoring, and mandatory reporting protocols to prevent such egregious violations from occurring in the future.
