‘Salvation’ for a principal
Parents fight to keep St. Saviour administrator in his job
By MichÈle De Meglio
Comment
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| Parents, teachers and students protest the dismissal of St. Saviour’s beloved principal. |
Parents hope Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will come to their rescue but, apparently, help isn’t on its way.
Following a candlelight vigil earlier this month, about 20 parents have continued to hold daily demonstrations outside St. Saviour Elementary School on Eighth Avenue in Park Slope to protest the dismissal of the school’s longtime principal. As this paper was going to press, parents were gathering for another rally in front of St. Saviour.
They hope DiMarzio will convince St. Saviour’s pastor, Rev. Daniel Murphy, to keep Principal James Flanagan for another year.
“This principal has been there for 25−plus years and has run the school successfully,” said Cathy Lau Hunt, who has two daughters at St. Saviour. “This is not the way you successfully transition leadership from one person to another.”
Rev. Kieran Harrington, spokesperson for the Diocese of Brooklyn, told this paper that DiMarzio has no plans to intervene.
“We’ve heard the protestors but ultimately, the decision rests with the pastor,” Harrington said. “He’s the one who hires and fires.”
Murphy is on vacation and unavailable for comment, according to a St. Saviour’s staffer.
Cindy Brolsma, who has three children at St. Saviour, said, “Mr. Flanagan appealed the decision and technically won his appeal but the way it’s set up is the pastor can veto anything. He really does have final word.”
“What we’ve been hearing is that Father Murphy has been asked to reconsider but he won’t budge,” Brolsma said.
Parents want Murphy to hear their pleas and consider extending Flanagan’s contract.
“What we’re asking for is due process,” Brolsma said.
Following a candlelight vigil earlier this month, about 20 parents have continued to hold daily demonstrations outside St. Saviour Elementary School on Eighth Avenue in Park Slope to protest the dismissal of the school’s longtime principal. As this paper was going to press, parents were gathering for another rally in front of St. Saviour.
They hope DiMarzio will convince St. Saviour’s pastor, Rev. Daniel Murphy, to keep Principal James Flanagan for another year.
“This principal has been there for 25−plus years and has run the school successfully,” said Cathy Lau Hunt, who has two daughters at St. Saviour. “This is not the way you successfully transition leadership from one person to another.”
Rev. Kieran Harrington, spokesperson for the Diocese of Brooklyn, told this paper that DiMarzio has no plans to intervene.
“We’ve heard the protestors but ultimately, the decision rests with the pastor,” Harrington said. “He’s the one who hires and fires.”
Murphy is on vacation and unavailable for comment, according to a St. Saviour’s staffer.
Cindy Brolsma, who has three children at St. Saviour, said, “Mr. Flanagan appealed the decision and technically won his appeal but the way it’s set up is the pastor can veto anything. He really does have final word.”
“What we’ve been hearing is that Father Murphy has been asked to reconsider but he won’t budge,” Brolsma said.
Parents want Murphy to hear their pleas and consider extending Flanagan’s contract.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of yournabe.com.
anti idiot wrote on Jul 30, 2009 9:25 PM:
" Yes, about 10%. Since children "drain" Fr. Murphy, I wish there were more. Maybe he can lower enrollment at SSES so he can feel less drained in the future. "
Reply to anti idiot wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:07 AM:
" Now that's a good Christian attitude. Your family must be very proud, all that good Catholic upbringing for naught. "
Reply to the reply wrote on Sep 17, 2009 12:00 AM:
" And the good christian attitude about firing a 63 year old principal to hire your friend is . . .? And to hire someone as principal of a catholic school who signed a Voice of the Faithful petition protesting the Holy Father's visit to the USA is . . .? Glad I did not get those values that I guess are in your home. Whatever they are, they are not related to the Church. "
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Picketer wrote on Jun 19, 2009 8:18 PM: