Here is the letter submitted to Bishop DiMarzio from parents at Saint Saviour's Elementary School, who are unhappy about the decision not to renew the contract of their longtime and highly respected principal James Flanagan.
Most Reverend Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio, Ph.D, D.D.
75 Green
Avenue
Brooklyn, New York
11238
Re:
Saint Saviour’s Elementary School
75 Green
Avenue
Brooklyn, New York
11238
Re:
Saint Saviour’s Elementary School
Dear Bishop DiMarzio:
I am a parent of a student at St. Saviour’s Elementary School
(“SSES”). Last week, I learned that Father Murphy, the Pastor of Saint
Saviour’s, has decided not to renew the contract of Principal James Flanagan,
who has dedicated the last twenty-five (25) years to SSES. To date,
Father Murphy has failed to formally advise the parents of SSES of his decision,
to provide us with any reason for his decision, and to discuss his apparent new
vision for the future of our beloved school. Bishop DiMarzio, under your
leadership, you have previously made clear that the Diocese is not interested in
weakening healthy schools. Moreover, in these difficult times for our
Catholic schools, you have indicated that the input and activity of the parents
is essential to the decision making process. In fact, as noted in the May
16, 2009 editorial of The Tablet, “[n]ot only has our diocesan bishop clearly
emblazoned his stamp on the preservation of Catholic schools; he has summoned
our laity to come to their rescue, laying out a strategy to ensure it.”
Fr. Murphy’s actions appear to be in direct conflict with these
points.
(“SSES”). Last week, I learned that Father Murphy, the Pastor of Saint
Saviour’s, has decided not to renew the contract of Principal James Flanagan,
who has dedicated the last twenty-five (25) years to SSES. To date,
Father Murphy has failed to formally advise the parents of SSES of his decision,
to provide us with any reason for his decision, and to discuss his apparent new
vision for the future of our beloved school. Bishop DiMarzio, under your
leadership, you have previously made clear that the Diocese is not interested in
weakening healthy schools. Moreover, in these difficult times for our
Catholic schools, you have indicated that the input and activity of the parents
is essential to the decision making process. In fact, as noted in the May
16, 2009 editorial of The Tablet, “[n]ot only has our diocesan bishop clearly
emblazoned his stamp on the preservation of Catholic schools; he has summoned
our laity to come to their rescue, laying out a strategy to ensure it.”
Fr. Murphy’s actions appear to be in direct conflict with these
points.
As I am sure you are aware, in a period where numerous other
parochial schools within your Diocese have been closed, or are in the process of
closing, SSES has continued to thrive and flourish. Our children are
blessed to obtain not only an incredible scholastic education, but an
understanding of the Catholic faith and how to live the life of a good Catholic
in all that they do. You would be incredibly proud of the exemplary
Catholic children who have graduated from SSES and go out into the world with
such a strong religious base. As you have previously noted on numerous
occasions, our children are the future of our faith. Having had the
opportunity to observe the children of SSES, including my own child, I am
pleased to say the future of our faith is bright.
parochial schools within your Diocese have been closed, or are in the process of
closing, SSES has continued to thrive and flourish. Our children are
blessed to obtain not only an incredible scholastic education, but an
understanding of the Catholic faith and how to live the life of a good Catholic
in all that they do. You would be incredibly proud of the exemplary
Catholic children who have graduated from SSES and go out into the world with
such a strong religious base. As you have previously noted on numerous
occasions, our children are the future of our faith. Having had the
opportunity to observe the children of SSES, including my own child, I am
pleased to say the future of our faith is bright.
While there are many reasons for the success of SSES, including
dedicated teachers and responsible parents, the one constant in SSES has been
the leadership and guidance of our principal, Mr. Flanagan. Over the last
twenty-five (25) years, Mr. Flanagan has devoted his life to the education and
spiritual growth of all of the children at SSES. To see him interact with
the students, all of who he knows by name, and to see the devotion his students
have toward him, is a source of immense pride. He not only teaches the
Catholic faith to his students but provides an example of what it means to be a
good Catholic in his dedication and compassion to the children.
dedicated teachers and responsible parents, the one constant in SSES has been
the leadership and guidance of our principal, Mr. Flanagan. Over the last
twenty-five (25) years, Mr. Flanagan has devoted his life to the education and
spiritual growth of all of the children at SSES. To see him interact with
the students, all of who he knows by name, and to see the devotion his students
have toward him, is a source of immense pride. He not only teaches the
Catholic faith to his students but provides an example of what it means to be a
good Catholic in his dedication and compassion to the children.
Mr. Flanagan is an incredibly proud and dedicated man who has
devoted his life to the children of SSES. As a parent, I have been
extremely fortunate to have him serve as Principal and I believe Fr. Murphy’s
decision not to renew his contract will have a significant negative effect
on SSES, its students and the Parish. Accordingly, I
respectfully request that you look into this matter and, upon confirming the
significant and positive role Mr. Flanagan has had and continues to have at
SSES, you make every effort to persuade Fr. Murphy to reverse his unfortunate
decision not to offer Mr. Flanagan a new contract.
devoted his life to the children of SSES. As a parent, I have been
extremely fortunate to have him serve as Principal and I believe Fr. Murphy’s
decision not to renew his contract will have a significant negative effect
on SSES, its students and the Parish. Accordingly, I
respectfully request that you look into this matter and, upon confirming the
significant and positive role Mr. Flanagan has had and continues to have at
SSES, you make every effort to persuade Fr. Murphy to reverse his unfortunate
decision not to offer Mr. Flanagan a new contract.
Respectfully
submitted,
submitted,
Father Murphy will need to restore trust in Park Slope.
It appears that Father Murphy has shown a lack of Christ’s compassion through exaggeration and harsh judgment It sounds like he has shown callous, heartless, unfeeling un-Christian like attention to the school’s principal.
Mr. Flanagan unfortunately, has been victimized by the pastor’s less than half-hearted response, while a school principal should expect understanding in the rich tradition of the Church’s teachings and traditions.
Mr. Flanagan only expected to offer his talents for the educational mission of the Church, but has now experienced an injustice in the church’s workplace.
What has the church pastoral leadership in Brooklyn come too?
As we all may believe — God works in mysterious ways and He is well able to write straight with crooked lines.
How about it guys–out there in Douglaston!!!
the people of God in Brooklyn –THE CHURCH
This is the bad dream that will not go away, but as catholics we have been told to always hold on to our faith, especially in times of need. The Lord is always there for his children.
All of our families that believe in our dear principal Mr. Flanagan, will continue to combat with lots of prayer. In our prayers we will pray for those who want to see the battle to reinstae our principal fail, we will pray for our church leaders, who may not understand the importance of our fight to keep an achieved educator in our school, that we trust with our children, and most importantly we will pray for those who always tell us to pray, because we know in our hearts WE DO PRAY!!! everyday since that dreadful monday.
God is good, and good will always prevail. Let’s keep the chain of prayer going, because our knees know the floor,and we have it in with their boss, GOD last time I checked he is the only one that can say whether it’s time for Mr. Flanagan to go!
Here is part of the letter which I sent to Bishops DiMarzo & Caggiano and copied to Dr. Chadzutko based on my experience, as a parent, of successor principals after the retirement of the long term principal…
…St. Saviour Elementary School is flourishing in attendance and enthusiastic children who do not deserve to go through the immoral process of losing their beloved principal. In these days, first class Catholic principals who truly care about and believe in their schools are hard to come by.
I can attest to this first hand as a former parent (and student) at St. Charles Borromeo School in Brooklyn Heights. I know what it is like to experience a new principal, in fact, 2 new principals within a 2-3 year time span, who did not care about nor devote themselves to the school in the same way the preceding principal did. This kind of turnover within a school can rapidly bring the quality of it down as well as the morale of teachers, students and parents alike. I would hate to see the decline which happened at St. Charles occur at St. Saviour.
St. Saviour Elementary School truly was a savior to my 2 children after the fire at St. Charles closed the school down. Mr. Flanagan played the most vital role to my family by allowing my children to attend the school at a time when enrollment was already reaching capacity. Only good things had been mentioned to me about St. Saviour and its staff by my mom, the late Ramona Delfino, and formerly the dedicated secretary who served more than 30 years at St. Charles Borromeo School. Mr. Flanagan and his staff welcomed all the children of St. Charles with open arms and helped to ease the difficult transition for them as only a devoted and warm-hearted principal could.
Additionally, as the parent of a daughter at St. Saviour High School, my faith in the pastor has me concerned that these actions could possibly be repeated there, if not now, then in the future. I am hoping that my youngest daughter will also be attending the high school in a couple of years and would hate to continue investing in my children’s Catholic education amidst such turmoil.
As we all know, a Catholic education is not cheap, but it is well worth the expense. As a single parent I have made sacrifices to ensure that my children have been raised in an atmosphere that promotes our faith and beliefs. These actions taken by Fr. Murphy have raised many questions for me, especially after my previous experiences…
Guess Fr. Murphy does not find they Catholic Church has enough problems. We still try to stand with them. How can you help but question your faith on anything. You try to sheild your children from this negativity but they are part of it. Of course he ddoes not take the children’s feelings into account.
Mr. Flanagan is a strong and dedicated person, that is very difficult to come by these days.We just have to continue praying and hope that Fr. Murphy will come to his senses.
One more year or not the decision to “get rid” of Mr. Flanagan with out informing the parents, without allowing Mr. Flanagan to introduce a new principle to the school as a functioning business, to the children and to the families. Perhaps without this hostility he would have stayed longer. Retirement is not a decision people come to lightly.
Fr. Murphy sat in on a meeting two years ago to tell us he wants the tuition raised to the actual cost. Anyone he brings in will makes this priority number one. To the fact that Fr. Murphy chooses to be interviewed for television and say “there will be a new principle and if the parents don’t like it they can take their children and leave”. What we want and deserve is respect from someone who has yet to formally acknowledge parents, who wants nothing to do with the school, who tells us our children “drain him”.
If Mr. Flanagan was choosing to retire in a peaceful manner the future of SS would not be hanging by a thread. Mr. Flanagan would never put the school he has dedicated most of his life to in this position. I can not imagine that after 26 years you can sum things up for a new administrator in less than a month. And according to Fr. Murphy a new principle has not yet been found so he expects someone to step into a position in less than 3 months and run our school and maintain its level of excellence. The beginning of the next school year is three months away and we do not know what is going on. Fr. Murphy chooses the timing. The week before many of us were celebrating First Holy Communion and at the very end of the school year after the children were registered. Fr. Murphy told me himself that he “made the decision in October of 2008 not to renew Mr. Flanagan’s contract”. Yet he waited 6 months to tell Mr. Flanagan and still has chosen not to address the parents.
This is what we are fighting for. The future of our school and a principle we deserve, who we know will make the children and the parents a priority. The pastor has not.
Christine
On Sunday May 10th, I was happily praying in Church at the 10:00 family Mass. I was proud of my daughter for altar serving. I was excited about my son’s upcoming 1st Holy Communion. My three children are thriving in school and we were going to bid on a house. On Monday May 11th all that came to a halt. I got a call that the Pastor had told the teacshers that he was firing the Principal and they were crying in the hallways. I called the Principal directly just to make sure. He told me it was true, and that he was appealing. We as a parish and as parents have been fighting this injustice ever since. Come join our march every weekday in front of St. Saviour’s Church from 1:00 to 2:30. (Except Monday June 1st where we will be at a different location.)
As a parent of two children attending SSES, I am extremely concerned that we are only a few weeks from the end of school and no one has any idea who the principal will be next year. The uncertainty and lack of communication is unsettling and can only have a negative effect on what has been widely regarded as one of the best Catholic schools in the Diocese.
One more year or not the decision to “get rid” of Mr. Flanagan with out informing the parents, without allowing Mr. Flanagan to introduce a new principle to the school as a functioning business, to the children and to the families. Perhaps without this hostility he would have stayed longer. Retirement is not a decision people come to lightly.
Fr. Murphy sat in on a meeting two years ago to tell us he wants the tuition raised to the actual cost. Anyone he brings in will makes this priority number one. To the fact that Fr. Murphy chooses to be interviewed for television and say “there will be a new principle and if the parents don’t like it they can take their children and leave”. What we want and deserve is respect from someone who has yet to formally acknowledge parents, who wants nothing to do with the school, who tells us our children “drain him”.
If Mr. Flanagan was choosing to retire in a peaceful manner the future of SS would not be hanging by a thread. Mr. Flanagan would never put the school he has dedicated most of his life to in this position. I can not imagine that after 26 years you can sum things up for a new administrator in less than a month. And according to Fr. Murphy a new principle has not yet been found so he expects someone to step into a position in less than 3 months and run our school and maintain its level of excellence. The beginning of the next school year is three months away and we do not know what is going on. Fr. Murphy chooses the timing. The week before many of us were celebrating First Holy Communion and at the very end of the school year after the children were registered. Fr. Murphy said that he “made the decision in October of 2008 not to renew Mr. Flanagan’s contract”. Yet he waited 6 months to tell Mr. Flanagan and still has chosen not to address the parents.
This is what we are fighting for. The future of our school and a principle we deserve, who we know will make the children and the parents a priority. The pastor has not.
Christine
Wow–firing someone without just cause in this economy is pretty cold. And not especially Christian.
Fr. Murhphy has his own private agenda. He talks a good talk about “transparency” but does not tell us anything. As parishioners of St. Saviour – it saddens me to say that I don’t believe a word Fr. Murphy says. He has proven over and over again since he has arrived at St. Saviour that he will do what he likes and if we don’t like it – leave. So much for Christianity! How could he dismiss someone as dedicated and kind as Jim Flanagan! Disgraceful! We can’t let this one go – our voices need to be heard!
Here is an excerpt of my letter to Bishop DiMarzio, which was sent certified mail over a week ago. I urge everyone who hasn’t sent a letter to the Bishop to do so promptly and to copy Superintendent Chadzutko at (tchadzutko@rcdob.org), who is keeping a record of all correspondence to the Bishop. The power of a written letter can work wonders. This action by the Pastor underscores how the student population and parents of the school are deemed as insignificant, but yet they are the ones who are most supporting the future of Catholic education.
Letter excerpt:
As a product of Catholic education myself, I believe in Catholic education and have made pro-active commitments to ensure its preservation.
From a purely Christian viewpoint, it is disappointing to see Father Murphy dismiss Jim Flanagan in this fashion, on what appears to be more of a personal nature after the principal has devoted over twenty five years of service to the school. From a parent’s perspective, we have already enrolled our children in the school for the following year with the expectation of continued leadership and success. This action is a serious breach of trust and good faith to the children and parents of the school, which begs the question: what is the urgency? Why not have a one or two year transition for all involved so that there is a seamless change of leadership, ensuring success, also allowing Jim Flanagan to retire with dignity? What panel is being formed to ensure the appointing of a principal who will uphold the high standards of the school? This presents serious doubt regarding the future and leaves me to conclude that for reasons unknown, there is a concerted effort here on the part of the Pastor to undermine the long-standing success of this school and to destroy the reputations of both a highly regarded school and principal.
I sincerely hope there is intervention on the behalf of the children of St. Saviour Elementary School whom have been so casually disregarded, and whose future education is put in jeopardy.
Telling involved, caring parents and happy kids at a successful school that their beloved principal was fired and giving absolutely no reason is outrageous.