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Public School Hero

High school Coach Charles Granby last week became the first coach in the PSAL to win 700 games. It is a record likely to stand for many years.

Campus Magnet fans were only able to watch this achievement at Forest Hills High School because of the intervention of state Assemblywoman Barbara Clark, whose district includes Campus Magnet. Clark called a city Department of Education official to complain and an exception was made for this game.

The 77-year-old coach is in his 43rd year on the bench. His record stands at 700-198. He is third in the state and No. 1 in the PSAL.

But his accomplishment extends beyond the basketball court. The coach has been a mentor to his players. In his time as a coach, he has no doubt touched the lives of thousands of players.

We congratulate Granby not just for 700 wins, but for a lifetime of dedication to high school sports.

Public School Zero

How is possible a teacher at a Queens public school could have an ongoing sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl on school grounds and no one noticed?

District Attorney Richard Brown says Charles Oross, 44, an IS 238 teacher, repeatedly had sex with one of his students in empty classrooms and in his car. The alleged acts took place between January 2009 and April 2010.

“This case is particularly disturbing because the defendant is a teacher and schools should be safe havens for children,” Brown said in a statement.

Sadly, it is not surprising a teacher would take advantage of a vulnerable young student. What is shocking is that this could be going on for nearly a year and a half on school property. The complaint charges that Oross sometimes met with the girl as early as 6 a.m.

Who let them in? Didn’t this seem strange?

The scandals at Penn State and Syracuse universities and now this point to the need for greater effort to protect children from predators who are willing to abuse a position of trust to satisfy their own needs.