Trevyan Rowe: Attorney general, state Education Department to investigate death of student

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia are launching an investigation into the death of Trevyan Rowe.

In a news release sent Monday afternoon, Schneiderman called Trevyan Rowe's death a "tragedy." "His family deserves answers — and all Rochester families deserve to know that their children will be safe at school."

The civil investigation will include a review of the Rochester City School District's policies, procedures and protocols "to determine what improvements need to be made in the wake of this tragedy and to ensure the safety of all students going forward," according to the release.

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School Board President Van White said it was the board that initially requested Schneiderman’s involvement in the probe, and that he was “encouraged” by the announcement.

Trevyan, 14, walked away from the South Avenue campus of School 12 shortly after being dropped off by his bus on March 8.

His family did not know he was missing until he did not return from school that day.

Following a citywide search involving thousands of volunteers, the special needs student's body was retrieved by law enforcement from the Genesee River near the Frederick Douglass-Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge on March 11.

District officials revealed last week that three different teachers at the school had marked Trevyan "present" in the attendance system on March 8. And one of those teachers had attempted to tamper with the recordkeeping on March 9, after Trevyan's disappearance became known.

Those teachers have been removed from their posts. Two were substitutes and the third, who is a full-time staffer, has been placed on paid leave.

Additionally, last week, the district dismissed the interim principal at School 12, replacing her with former principal Vicki Gouveia, who had worked there from 1995 to 2001.

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A half-dozen employees of the city-run 911 center have also been placed on leave, pending an investigation into why they failed to follow protocol and notify fire and water rescue crews, as per standard procedure, after numerous motorists alerted the center to a pedestrian on the bridge the morning of March 8.

"Any time there is a tragic loss of a child, we must look for answers to determine what events and procedures allowed for such a heartbreaking incident to occur," said MaryEllen Elia, education commissioner. “Once we know all the facts, it is imperative, as state and local leaders, that we come together to make the changes needed to prevent the loss of lives so young."

MCDERMOT@Gannett.com

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