Here is a letter from a Saint Saviour's parent that contains some interesting information about proposed tuition increases at the Catholic school that may be the reason for a conflict between Fr. Murphy and principal Flanagan.
Saviour School Brooklyn, outlining the story of his dismissal to date. Note that disagreement with the pastor about proposed tuition
increases seems to be the core issue in the sacking.
Half of St
Saviour's student body come from socio-economically challenged
neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Providing a quality education to the
economically disadvantaged is a core tenet of the Catholic education
model as it has been historically delivered at St. Saviour School. Note
also that proper review procedures were not observed in the sacking of
Mr Flanagan, with the result that Mr Flanagan is seeking intervention
from the Brooklyn Diocese . He seeks mediation after winning an
arbitration judgement that resulted in no change of position on the
sacking by Fr. Daniel Murphy.
This new information points to a
larger story about what is to change and what remains the same as
Catholic Education seeks to re-invent itself . The old autocratic
religious hierarchy is in full effect in the execution of this
autocratic dismissal; no information or notification given to parents,
no recourse or communication forthcoming throughout the period of
protest. Though laity are supposed to take a bigger role in redefining
Catholic Education for the future, as outlined in the document
'Preserving the Vision', in this case the diocese is abdicating all
responsibility for the Pastor's actions, and allowing him full
autonomy, even if procedurally he has erred. This leaves the paying
parents of St. Saviour school without a recourse other than broad
public protest in their effort to retain a highly successful
principal. No information has been issued by the parish or diocese as
to Fr. Murphy's vision of education or why Mr Flanagan does not fit
into this vision. Parents don't know how they should close the school
year. They remain without the knowledge of what awaits their children
in the fall and have heard nothing from the diocese on any prospect of
mediation.
The crass idea that a high performing school in a
rich neighborhood could provide the parish with a cash cow, is not far
from parishioners minds, as I write. Those who live in Park Slope and
are seeking a quality education for their children might consider St.
Saviour given the other private schools in the neighborhood cost
between 25 -30K per child per year . For the children of Bed
Stuyvesant and Crown Heights who currently attend St. Saviour, if
tuition does increase from the current 3.5K to 5k – 10K, they'll be out
in the cold.
If you would like to find out more information on this story please visit www.stsaviours.wordpress.com or contact brolsmacindy@yahoo.com