Latest news with #Liberti
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
East Aurora School District addresses racist remarks toward students, plans for dialogue on inclusion
EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WIVB) — The East Aurora Middle School was filled on Wednesday with parents who brought their concerns of racism being directed at their kids and other children to the school board. Many called it a troubling and reoccurring issue. The East Aurora Union Free School District is currently looking into racial incidents at the middle school in what they called 'a pattern of concerning conduct.' East Aurora School District Superintendent Brian Russ said the racial incidents under investigation started this month when a teacher reported over half a dozen students directing hate at a single individual. 'From there, we investigated,' Russ said. 'It had racial overtones and so as we went through the process, we realized that there were a number of students involved, so we interviewed them and gathered information.' Russ confirmed that racial remarks in the school's basketball team group chat are a part of the investigation. Middle school parents Amanda Jetty and Ejona Liberti said they know the family directly impacted by the comments. Those families didn't attend the board meeting. 'We support all the kids involved and we wanna make sure that they know that they could come to us, we would help them out in whichever way we can to deal with the situation and grow from the situation together,' Liberti said. The parents in attendance expressed their desire to stand in solidarity with those affected and ensure their voices are heard in the conversation. 'It is worrisome, but I'm hopeful to what I'm seeing — how I'm seeing the school react, how I'm seeing the community react,' Liberti said. Russ said the district is committed to creating a safe environment for both parents and students, stating that the school plans to introduce more opportunities for inclusion and acceptance, such as inviting experts to communicate the importance of words. 'We're working with our students directly in large and smaller groups and then we're providing resources for our community,' Russ said. Other parents worry that the school's reaction is too extensive and affects those who had no part in the incident. 'My concern is that this response from the board appears to overreach in so far as it really suggests the implantation in children that maybe there's some kind of collective guilt for something and that's that's just not American,' one parent said. Concerned parents are planning on holding a 'Hate Has No Home Here' rally at 1:30 p.m. Friday outside of middle school located at 166 South Grove St. They said it's a public showing for the victims of racism at the school to show them they are not alone. Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
Former Leavenworth mom charged in relation to baby's death
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Charges Friday night in the more than year-old case revolving around a . The baby's mother, Liberti Figueroa, faces two counts of aggravated endangering of a child and one count of involuntary manslaughter. 'Aggravated endangering a child is recklessly causing or premeditating a child to be put into a position where it could affect their harm or life,' Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in an interview with FOX4 Friday. This happened at the Woodland Village Apartments near Wilson Avenue and Limit in October of 2023. Mayor Lucas hopes those impacted by fed layoffs stay in public service Thursday evening, Liberti Figueroa's stepmother actually called FOX4 after finding out her stepdaughter had been arrested. ''Ah no. Your son dropped her out of her crib,'' Liberti said of how her then boyfriend explained her baby's death to her in October of 2023. 'My son is four! Four! My daughter has been bleeding like that and he's four. He wouldn't do that to her.' As you may be able to tell, Figueroa's blaming her ex-boyfriend for her daughter's death. , seeking justice in Saraphina Avarose Sanchez's death. Friday though, FOX4 found out she's been charged in connection to the death of a child. 'I can't comment on that because that's for a jury to decide how the facts are portrayed,' Thompson said when asked about Liberti's ex-boyfriend. 'I cannot comment at this time,' he continued when asked if more charges will be filed in relation to the baby's death. After our interview with Thompson, FOX4 interviewed Liberti's stepmother, Ashley Figueroa, who lives outside Orlando, Florida. 'I was in shock,' Ashley said when asked what her reaction was to Liberti being arrested. 'I didn't want to believe that she was arrested because we all know she's innocent.' Because of the nature of the charges, FOX4 asked Ashley if she felt like Liberti would have endangered her child if she left her with her then boyfriend. 'No, I don't think she would hurt her child,' Ashley replied. 'I think when she left her child with the person, he did something to her, but I can't say yes or no.' Thompson said law enforcement did a thorough investigation in this case. 'Then we reviewed what law enforcement provided us to determine whether something needed to be charged,' he added. One of the aggravated endangering of a child charges comes from September of 2023, a month before Avarose Sanchez actually died. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android When FOX4 asked Thompson if police had been called to that home a month earlier than the day the baby actually died, Thompson wouldn't comment. Friday night, there was no word when Liberti's first court appearance will be. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
