54 thoughts on “New Principal of Saint Saviour Elementary School: Maura Lorenzen”

1. saint saivor alum….I am sorry that your experience at Saint Saviour’s was so horrible. It must have been hot in those dark halls. I hope the teachers and Ms. Harvey at least helped you get an amazing education like all of the other Saint Saviour Alumni. As for the lawsuit, many of us do know about the unfortunate accident that resulted in Ryan’s injury. His lawsuit was settled (though not for millions of dollars)and thankfully was covered by insurance.

2. Let sleeping dogs lie….clearly you must be joking. So now Father Murphy is protecting Mr. Flanagan? And he is standing up for the good of the School which he admits he hasn’t visited and admits that he does not have the “gift” of being comfortable in an elementary school setting? Perhaps those blinders you are wearing are what allow you to see the grace and poise you mention because its clearly not the realty of what has unfortunately occurred to our Parish over the last three months.

3. this is so crazy. you do realize unless you went to this school you do not know what happends behind closed doors. Mr.flanagan is not a good leader he did NOTHING. Any events or changes were through parents and teachers and even mrs. harvey thats it. you should not pull your kids out of this school in reply to 1 blogger because things can only get better from where he left them with this new principle.so everyone relax and come to saint saviour highschool bishop ford bishop kearney fonnt bonne and find the alumns and ask us and we will tell you that he sat in his office all day in a.c and let the rest of the school make productive changes. we will tell you how he shuts all the lights off in the hallways to “save money”. and we will tell you how he lets the children play in the gym when theres pools of water on the floor which resulted in a major lawsuit from my classmate when he broke his collarbone and was in a wheelchair for the enitre summer besides the fact that it cost the school millions of dollars.bet you didnt know that =) thank you

4. Surely Father Murphy had just cause to let Mr. Flanagan go and maybe keeping the reasons private was a way of protecting Mr. Flanagan as well as his supporters. Decorating decisions & dining companions are not the issues at hand, are they? Kudos to Father Murphy for standing up for what he believes is right for the betterment of the school, the parish and people of the community. It’s the way you have handled this, with grace and poise that has gained respect and admiration.

5. Peter…you are obviously not a member of our Parish and have no children in our School. I appreciate your devotion to Father Murphy and understand there are several members of St. Andrews who follow him everywhere. Unfortunately, Father Murphy’s “success” at St. Andrews did not follow him to Holy Child Jesus nor Saint Saviour. I suspect your long history of working in the TV NEWS business has not resulted in learning how to offer an unbiased opinion. At least you readily admit that you stand by your old friend and support him on all matters. Since your children and your parish are not involved, such blind devotion may be acceptable to you but it is not acceptable to me and many other parents and parishioners at Saint Saviour.

6. To ALL BLOGGERS
   I realize I’m repeating much of what has already been said, but here goes.
   I am PROUD to be honored with Fr. Murphy’s friendship. He has been a fantastic counselor, spiritual supporter, and UNSELFISH PROVIDER of HIMSELF to me and my family for many years.
   The Church, like any corporation, is not a democracy, and the decisions of upper management are their own. I’m sure Fr. Murphy had very good reasons for replacing the principal, and that his actions were FAIR and JUST.
   He has done nothing but try to increase the numbers of the congregation attending at every parish he has been, and has been quite successful. This last desicion regarding the principal was surely made with consideration of the benefit to ALL.
   Instead of defaming him with gossip, support him, and have FAITH in your pastor as does the BISHOP himself.
   I have worked in the TV NEWS business for almost 30 years, and I assure can you, believe very little of what you read, and nothing of what you hear.
   I stand proudly by my old friend, Fr. Dan Murphy and support his judgement in all matters.
   -Peter Maran

7. Regardless of various opinions, this GOSSIP is not Christian, whether in favor or against Fr. Murphy’s decision regarding not renewing Mr. Flanagan’s contract. Speaking about having a hand in the till – disgusting accusations! And where Mr. Flanagan dines and with whom – nonsense!
   Years back, a pastor I know fired all the employees at a parish and hired all new people when he took over. Were parishioners upset? Yes, some were, esp. the ones fired. Was it a crime? No! Did they protest in front of church, have blogs about it and slanderous articles? No!
   Looking for so-called “dirt” on your pastor and the people who work for him is so very opposite of Christian behaviour. To make negative accusing statements and smear a person’s reputation that way, is truly unbecoming of any church member of any church. Yes, we all gossip, but to air it online and put unfounded accusations out there, is horrendous and does great harm more so than good.
   I pray for all involved there…that James Flanagan accepts his situation and moves forward to something new in a positive light, that the new principal does a great job and has the support of all the parents there, and that Fr. Murphy is forgiven (by those who deem he needs pardon) for making a decision he felt he had the right to make, and also is given the support that a pastor needs. Wishing you all the very best outcome with this.

8. Looking for a new school for my kids now. I’ve had it with both sides.

9. One more comment to FED UP — seems your comments are merely being vindictive on a personal level and they have no relevance. Enough please.

10. This is getting out of control! While I am no longer a parent of a student at the school, I am still a lifelong parishioner and resident of Park Slope for that last 65 years. My wife and I have seen many pastors come and go and I have seen the elementary school thrive under the leadership of Mr. Flanagan. But really, I could not care less who eats at LaVilla – how many times they dine there – and with whom they are eating. Moreso, if Mr. Flanagan is spotted with teachers…WHO CARES?! FED UP – you struck a nerve with more people that just “Christine”. Shame on you. The fact that you refer to cryonism – or anyone else who dares destroy the reputations of innocent teachers with such slander – is shameful unCatholic behavior. And why don’t we all get over ourselves and decide to leave everyone alone — Mr. Flanagan, the teachers, Fr.Murphy and Maura…enough is enough. Anyone guilty of any shameful behavior will face the Ultimate Judge someday – why don’t we leave it at that?

11. To Fed Up:
    LOL! I am so glad you caught on – I was hoping you would! I knew that despite the fact you hide behind a user name, you couldn’t be that ignorant not to get my point. You see, I finally figured out the strategy at play here. The strategy of many of Fr. Murphy’s supporters is as simple as this – DIVERT THE ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE FACT HE HAD NO VALID REASON TO FIRE MR. FLANAGAN AND BRING IRRELEVANT PEOPLE INTO THE ARGUMENT! If we start looking at those irrelevant people, then suddenly everyone will forget that Fr. Murphy is wrong, and will forgive and forget. You are trying to force people to sneer at Mr. Flanagan and all those with whom he socializes. It doesn’t matter that in reality this bears no weight on the topic at all – it doesn’t matter that those people have nothing to do with the war Fr. Murphy waged against Mr. Flanagan. This whole strategy is weak and pointless – it really makes you and all the others who are doing this, look ugly and pathetic. Most importantly, it really drives home the point you don’t think Fr. Murphy had valid reasons either, because you are choosing to bring up these inane suggestions that mean nothing to the overall discussion.
    I will try to get Mr. Flanagan’s dinner schedule out to you – I don’t think anyone is going to LaVilla this week…try Sotto Voce instead. Although it is restaurant week in the city, so maybe you will need to branch out of Brooklyn.
    I am not going to continue blogging with you Fed Up – as much fun as I have been having, I have said my peace. Good luck in your fight.

12. Shame on you….shame on you for your complete lack of knowledge. The galas were run by Friends of Saint Saviour (of which Father Murphy is on the Board) not the School. Everyone paid and apparently only you and Father Murphy seem to be upset about it. Do you both share the same pedestal ?

13. To Chriss: Judging from your comments, seems the issue with Mr. Flanagan dining with the mother/daughter teachers has struck a nerve with you..

14. Fed Up Alum….the information concerning the percentage of Catholic students at Saint Saviour’s is available at the Diocese website. Perhaps you can go and visit it and see. Saint Saviour’s is 81% Catholic. Which is the highest in our cluster. I am sure most of the other 19% also value a religious curriculum for their children. I hope you realize these statistics, as well as the unquestioned success of Saint Saviour’s Elementary School do not “justify the idea” of a non-religious public charter school being “tossed around”. Were you on the Parish Councel that decided to toss it around ? While you apparently do not value a Catholic education despite being a Catholic parent and a former alum, we all do.

15. To Fed Up:
    You have placed yourself in a very laughable position because visions of whomever you are, sneaking around corners and watching the teachers and Mr. Flanagan when they are eating at La Villa or anywhere else, is ridiculous. Dinners take place AFTER SCHOOL and people are allowed to eat with whomever they want. Mr. Flanagan did not appoint the daughter to the church position (that was Fr. Murphy) and Mr. Flanagan did not appoint the president of the home school board (that was about 300 parents who voted in a democratic election). Again, stop the petty jealousy. Have you been to Bay Ridge? It is a virtual who’s who of the teachers eating out together and enjoying themselves – WHAT A CRIME! Maybe it was the good relationships formed among the faculty and administration that have helped the school succeed.
    No one has needed to dig up dirt on Father Murphy – his previous parishioners are more than happy to provide facts and figures. He has worked hard on creating his own reputation.
    Thank you – you have actually given many readers of this blog something to laugh about, despite the ongoing tragedy.

16. To James: $90,000 raised and you charged a man of the cloth for admission to these galas, SHAME ON YOU.

17. In response to comments posted by Chriss: As a Catholic parent I believe the question as to how many non-catholic/out-of-parish are enrolled in the school is a valid one..those statistics would justify the idea of a charter school being tossed around.
    There was no need to spy/follow Mr. Flanagan and the mother/daughter teachers around weekly..I was simply commenting on how often I would see them dining at Lavilla as I was dining there as well..
    Besides, the spies have been busy trying to “find something” on Father Murphy’s past, haven’t they?
    One of the “real issues at hand” brought to light by Mr. Flanagan supporters was a charge of cronyism. Maura Lorenzen’s relationship with Father Murphy is characterized as cronyism. Yet, Mr. Flanagan’s relationship with mother/daughter teachers, including one who held a church position and a sister who is president of the Home School Board is portrayed as “jealousy” Interesting..

18. To Concerned Alumni – I think the serious issue that is being looked into is real alumni raised $90,000 in support of the school in 2 galas. Fr. Murphy sent an email stating he had looked at the accounting of the galas, had the bank account statements reflecting both galas, and was on the fund raising committee and had access to all of the data. Why did he charge Mr. Flanagan with insubordination for not giving him an accounting of the gala? Perhaps you could think about that as a serious issue when you are looking at no fund raising next year – I see the result of my efforts raising money for the school — The petty pastor did not get full access to the funds, and he is furious. Never again will I raise money for anything connected to this awful priest.

19. To concerned alum,
    FYI – The parish data base is public knowledge – it is printed in the parish directory 2006 which went out to all parishoners in preparation for our parish’s 100 year anniversary celebration under the leadership of our pastor, Fr. Murphy. Too bad that with all the apparent lies and lack of transparency in the parish, that you only focus on getting letters and the legalities of that. Oh boy, another lawsuit! Just what the church needs! When is the diocese going to wake up and smell something fishy coming out of St.Saviour’s rectory.

20. To Fed Up:
    In response to your comment on July 15 – you clearly have issues with the mother/daughter teachers and the acting president of the Home School Board, and don’t care one iota for the real situation at hand. First of all, it is not your business how many students are not Catholic or live out of parish – the decision of parents to send their children to a school no matter where it is located or what religion it teaches, shows that the parents feel strongly about the education being offered at that particular place. Secondly, the parents and others routinely asked and invited Fr. Murphy to the school – there were no protests, just repeated attempts to bring him in. Everyone hoped he would come to something at some point. Thirdly, it is not your business who Mr. Flanagan eats dinner with – I find it odd you felt the need to spy on him and/or follow him around, weekly no less!
    Please try to keep focused on the issue at hand -of Mr. Flanagan being treated unjustly – rather than your jealousy for the mother/daughter teachers and acting president of the home school board. This is not the forum for your issues with them.

21. Enough Already: I too have received the letters in the mail.. Who is dipping into the database with alum’s names/addresses and other privy information? This is a very serious act as there are so many privacy/confidentialty laws today.. Obviously the person doing so was trying to be clever by not revealing their identities by failing to leave a return address. Rest assured this matter is being looked into..

22. I set up a blog to discuss what’s going on at SSES. I am interested in hearing from both sides and I hope that we can have a civilized conversation about it without mud slinging!
    http://saintsaviourdiscussion.blogspot.com/

23. TO The Group/Society who keeps bombarding my mailbox with written letters to send the Bishop’s Office in support of Mr. Flanagan: STOP. I would send back “return to sender” but you conveniently do not provide a name/address. Investigations,or as you would call it “FULL DISCLOSURE” will take place as to who is sending this junk mail AND who is giving you my address. P.S. My letter in support on Father Murphy was already sent with a return address.

24. To fed up – as a parent at SSES I’m happy to answer your questions. I did not see the petition when it was finally sent in, but from the amount of different parents I saw on the picket lines and the amount of upset parents (around 100 – I counted) at the meeting to discuss this, my very educated guess would be that the majority of the parents with children at the school did sign the petition.
    I believe about 25% of the student body is Non-Catholic, but very few non-christians. I’m not quite sure what the relevance of this is.
    I’m not sure what percentage of the students live outside the parish, but it is the majority. Many people move to Park Slope to take advantage of the great public schools so this is not surprising. Also, many parents outside the parish seek out SSES for it’s excellent reputation so we are blessed with an amazingly diverse school.
    There was no need to protest as another wonderful priest is active with the school and Mr. Flanagan is a very religious man and sent a high standard in this area.
    I think that a principal (or boss or priest) having dinner with employees would mean that they are friends – I think that is allowed.
    Cronyism refers to appointments made, not to an elected position.
    I hope this clears some things up for you.

25. Just a few questions:: how many petition signatures were those of parents in the school? How many students enrolled are non-catholic? How many live out of parish? Have I missed the protests over the last 4 years protesting Father Murphy’s non-involvement with the school/children?? Does the term cronyism refer to mother/daughter teachers who would dine weekly with Mr. Flanagan? Does it refer to relatives of teachers acting as pres of school boards?

26. July 14, 2009
    Dear Parents and especially Kathy D.R.: I am moved to write to you not to give up your Faith because of an autocratic and selfish man, who happens to be a priest and unfortunately still our Pastor. I too am a life-long parishioner, graduate of both the elementary and high school, parents of children who went to SSES, and until Fr. Murphy, was very active in our parish. I am very disheartened by the way our Pastor has treated the parents and that too prompted me to join your protest lines. I don’t know how the outcome of this unnecessary and totally unjust drama will end, but please don’t leave the Church or give up your Faith because of the actions of this man, who I agree is wrong. Try to remember, We are the Church, the Pastors are just passing through.
    Gertrude

27. Father Murphy has won. I have lost all faith in my Pastor, Church, Bishop, and my Parish. I did what to this day I believe was the right thing. I was fighting for a man who dedicated most of his life to Catholic Education, and was let out of his contract for no other reason other than the Pastor not liking him. I am disgusted in how the pastor and all of his followers could let this happen. I am even more disgusted in how money has taken the place of a good Catholic Education. I have been so sickened by what I have seen and heard over the last three months. Father Murphy will only talk to the parents who pad the collection basket.
    I left the church when I was younger because like today I believed you went to church to learn about God and his work, not how we need more money. I do understand the money is needed to keep a church going, but along the way it became all about the money and less about the lesson. It became about the kitchens, the grounds, the improvements.
    Mr. Flanagan fought to keep the school affordable, fought for those students who needed his help the most. Mr. Flanagan might have made some people mad, but his main objective was to do the right thing.
    If only we had a compassionate Pastor as we do a principal. Father Murphy has no clue about our school, he thinks we need to raise our test scores, yet this year our school’s scores were higher than last year. Do we really want to be like some of the other schools where all they do is practice for test and forget about the rest?
    Don’t the Bishop’s and Father Murphy understand that a Catholic Education is not just religion being taught but all the values that go into every lesson. It’s funny when new parent’s come to the school they ask do you have children in the school, and I say yes I have two children and I also attended the school. They ask how I like it, and I reply I love it. I let them know how the children form such strong bonds and that even though years can go by those bonds are never broken. How even today I am still in contact with more friends from elementary school than high school. St. Saviour is like a loving family and a safe place to be. I feel now that it is all lost due to the lack of knowing the school, teachers, and the parents.
    So like I said earlier I have lost all faith.
    Kathy Dougherty Rowland
    Forty one years in the parish and parent of two children who attend SSES

28. It seems there are dark clouds gathering everywhere you look. A dark cloud of suspicion over Mr. Flanagan. A dark cloud of suspicion over Father Murphy. A dark cloud over the new principal candidate, Maura Lorenzen. There are angry outbursts in front of church. Arguments in Farrell’s. Conservative Catholics against Liberal ones. People finding other churches to attend or worse, skipping church all together. Bishop DiMarzio is not doing well, and while we are praying for him, we’re also hoping against hope that he has heard our pleas. The parish will have to pay a settlement and is risking a lawsuit and knew it going into it, and our coffers are down. FOR WHAT? So that Fr. Murphy could get rid of someone who fought against a tuition increase. So that Fr. Murphy could toy with the idea of converting our school into a public charter school. We asked for one year, and a proper send off for a man we admire. A man who earned our admiration with toil and dicipline, not fluff and nonsense. I get it that folks love Fr. Murphy. I did too, but its everyone’s responsibility to do due diligence and examine their allegiances.

29. Re: Innocent Bystander
    “Discuss” with whom? Fr. Murphy refuses to discuss his actions publicly.
    If you are really trying to decide about sending your children to SSES, would you prefer a school in which the parents are active and included in how the school is run or would you rather that parents simply pay tuition and drop their children at the door? Would you like your children to go to a school in which the person in charge discusses and includes parents and parishioners in major decisions affecting their future education or not?
    No doubt: this situation is unfortunate and upsetting for everyone who cares. But examine what’s happened here. Can you honestly blame the protesters for the turmoil? What should we have done instead of what we have done and are doing? Fr. Murphy ignored us in making his decision to get rid of Mr. Flanagan and he ignored us in choosing his replacement.
    I’m just amazed that so many of those who commend Fr. Murphy on his new choice for principal are perfectly OK with overlooking his embarrassing and shameful behavior in getting to that choice, regardless of her qualifications. His is exactly the kind of old-school pastoral powerplay that has rightly been condemned by those who want to move the Church into the 21st century.
    In my opinion, anyone involved in the parish or the school has an obligation to let Fr. Murphy (and the Bishop) know that his actions — not those of the protesters — have damaged his reputation and the name of St. Saviour’s. I strongly believe the protesters are the ones who are helping to restore that reputation, and I sincerely urge you to join us in all our efforts.

30. Pat K….there was no need to correct yourself. You were right the first time as to who has their hand in the till. Along with his business manager who has now served in the same role in Father Murphy’s last three parishes.

31. Joe and Jim- I don’t doubt you have collected 650 signatures, but how many of those signatures are from **current** parents? And how many are from people who just happened to walk by the picket line and signed their names but have no current affilication with the school or the parish? That is all I care about as I consider whether to send my children to the school or not. I really hate the thought of walking them into a minefield. You need to understand what the continuing vitriol does to parents like me who are weighing options for our children. We WILL go elsewhere. You can blame Father Murphy if enrollment declines, but people like you who are unable to discuss this rationally WILL ALSO be responsible for the drop in enrollment I foresee if you don’t lay down your arms. No one wants to sit down with a mob, and from what I’ve read here, the loudest of you certainly do have a mob mentality. I hope you find some peace over this and a way to interject some rational thought into your side of the discourse.

32. I meant Mr. Flanagan- excuse me.

33. As a Alumni of St Saviour’s Grammar School I find this whole matter disturbing. I have heard from someone who teaches at St. Saviours that Murphy had his hand in the till and was given over a year to find a new position.
    Has this been mentioned?

34. Maggie,
    I will remind you that this is not about Maura. This is about Mr. Flanagan and Fr. Murphy. However, since you bring it up and I see her previous employer has responded as well, perhaps you can explain to me how it is possible Maura resigned with her former employer and Fr. Murphy announced her hiring without even conducting a search. Don’t bother, it couldn’t be possible. Her name surfaced immediatley in May. Only her name. Fr. Murphy conducted no such search and I will go so far as saying he already new whom he would hire when he announced Mr. Flanagan’s termination. That makes Fr. Murphy an outright LIAR in the statements he made and he made them publicly both in letters and in the media regarding conducting a search. He conducted no such search as anyone is aware of. His other sins include pride and arrogance to name a few. His trust and credibility are gone and he needs to go confession himself. I will repeat, this entire issue has nothing to do about Muara. It is entirely about Mr. Flanagan and the covert and appalling manner in which Fr. Murphy operates. Fr. Murphy needs to go. He should just resign. This will not stop as he had expected when he strategically went on vacaction and the end of the school year. I know it was pre-planned. It was planned when he decided to fire Mr. Flanagan and hire Maura. He certainly didn’t cunduct a search while he wa son vacaction, now did he? Please stop telling me how you belive in and know Fr. Murphy. That makes you either his shill or Fr. Murphy himself. Take your pick.

35. Dear “innocent bystander” – You have no idea of the number of people opposing Fr. Murphy. You forgot to mention the term “super-majority” when talking about “apoplectic” parents. Tomorrow those “apoplectic” parents are delivering to Bishop DiMarzio over 600 (you read that correctly -probably closer to 650) signatures opposing Fr. Murphy’s idiocy. Enough of the innuendo and lies coming from the rectory mocking those who have dared to stand up to a autocrat, enough of giving his friends salaries, enough of the wasteful spending and private kitchens, enough of the salaries for “business managers” for a church with a $600,000 total revenue, and enough of St. Ephrem’s parishioners sitting on our parish council(!!!) running down third generation St. Saviour’s parishioners. St. Saviour’s 5 year nightmare is coming to an end.

36. Re: Innocent Bystander
    I understand your reaction, but please try to understand the frustration of so many parents and parishioners.
    We HAVE tried to work this out. Fr. Murphy refuses to publicly discuss his reasons for effectively firing Mr. Flanagan or to reconsider his decision. As far as the pastor’s concerned, there IS nothing to work out.
    Unfortunately, Fr. Murphy’s failure to comply with diocesan protocols and procedures in dismissing Mr. Flanagan has — perhaps unfairly, but understandably — also created suspicion about his new appointee.
    Believe me: everybody who’s on the picket lines, posting and writing emails has other, more pleasant things to do. But to overlook Fr. Murphy’s shameful behavior towards Mr. Flanagan, the alumni, the parishioners, the parents, the teachers, the students and even to his own appointee — just so we can “move on” — isn’t an acceptable option for those who believe children learn by example.

37. I have heard that Maura Lorenzen was well liked and respected as co-director of her last job at the preschool, and many have praised her hard work. I do not question how she was, I question how she will be as an elementary school principal. I would like to know if her goal is to raise our tuition as she stated when on the Finance Committee.
    What also concerns me is Ms. Lorenzens relationship with Father Murphy. How Ms. Lorzenzen’s cousin became the new DRE after his good friend Rita Lavin left. The relationship between Rita Lavin and her husband Deacon Ed O’Connell and Bishop Caggiano in connection to Father Murphy is very interesting. I would also like to mention that Michael Sapienza Father Murphy’s business Manager, who has been with Father Murphy for awhile now. What Pastor brings his business Manager with him from parish to parish. It is also my understanding that Holy Child of Jesus had some interesting things to say about Mr. Sapienza and his wife along with Father Murphy who did provide them with “lavish grounds”.

38. To Maggie “educational gold in her pocket”. Early childhood education as Co-Director of a preschool does not qualify anyone for the education of children above the age of 5.
    You also mention “support, enhance, and lead classroom articulation of State and City requirements for each grade.” How does a background in Preschool qualify her for this?
    “In St. Saviour’s, it also means being a model of Catholic faith and service.” Parents make many sacrifices and choices, if FAITH based education is important a model of Catholic faith will seek out Catholic education for her own children Ms. Lorenzen has not they attend public school.
    She sat in on and offended many parents who attended a board meeting addressing tuition increases. This would not affect a family whose children attend public school.
    A model of faith is someone who lives their faith and raises their children accordingly. No one among us is perfect but I assure you volunteering for a few committees does not necessarily make a person a model of faith.
    It does not seem to me that you have children in the school, I wonder how you would feel if this were happening directly to your children. There are several teachers currently employed at SS that are qualified and live their faith. We are not judging Ms. Lorenzen specifically but it is rather well known that she is a close personal friend of Fr. Murphy and that he just hired her cousin as well.
    Why were devout Catholic teachers who are qualified and have devoted their life to educating children in FAITH based education not considered? These teachers who have also made choices and sacrifices over the years when they could have earned more in a public school. You ask us to give Ms. Lorenzen a chance when these teachers were not extended the save courtesy or respect.
    Devoting your life to faith based education and giving children the foundation which will support our faith. This is what is important to us.

39. Rabbi Bachman. Thank you for clarifying the situation and confirming that Maura Lorenzen was not “fired” by Congregation Beth Elohim. Given the recent changes at the Congregation, which included 11 Board of Trustee, several Officers, the Executive Director and several Adminstrators “stepping down”, as well as confirmation from several staff members at ECC, many of us believed Maura’s decision to leave Congregation Beth Elohim was not a unilateral decision. Given the economy, it did not seem possible that someone would leave a place they worked for the last 27 years and were so well recieved for: less money, a one year contract, the uncertainty of what would happen when the School becomes an Academy, and the tumultuous situation that exists in our Parish and School. I wish to apologize to you, Maura and Congregation Beth Elohim for my apparent mistaken impression.

40. The thing that bothers me is that the way everything was handled. Mr Flanagan who spent 25 years at St. Saviours is told his contract will not be renewed – this happens two months before school is let out. He is being tossed aside like a piece of trash. How can a pastor do this? If Mr. Flanagan was such a bad principal why would the Board of Education have nothing but praise for this man and this school. He must have done something right. Our school means everything to us, to our children. It may not be fair to Mrs. Lorenzen to come in at this time, but she knew what she was getting into. Father Murphy needs to explain his reasoning to the parents. I for one will not just leave, which I am thinking maybe that’s what Father Murphy wants.

41. To Rabbi Bachman: Thank you for setting the story straight regarding Mrs.Lorenzen. Hopefully the mudslinging will cease. Protesting parents should take the comments/suggestions of innocent bystander to heart. Simmer down, apply your engergy towards building back the reputation of the parents, the school & the parish, you have your work cut out for you.

42. Father Murphy close his letter by saying, “Enjoy the summer.” ENJOY THE SUMMER!!!!!????? Maybe we could “ENJOY” the summer if he hadn’t “ENJOYED” firing our expert principal. Maybe we could “ENJOY” the summer if he hadn’t hired his friend to fill the slot. Maybe he could “ENJOY” Bishop DiMarzio’s Preserving the Vision Plan which states:
    “The significant economic challenges that Catholic families face today require that the Church ensure that costs associated with Catholic elementary school education remain as affordable as possible. To do so, we must be good stewards of the resources available to us. This process will result in a more targeted expenditure of resources for the good of all children in Catholic schools.”
    Father Murphy had the perfect man for the job! Principal Flanagan kept tuition costs down and still balanced the budget. He achieved this while maintaining academic excellence and full enrollment. I wish I could “ENJOY” many more years with Mr. Flanagan as principal!

43. I’d like to make very clear, on behalf of everyone at Congregation Beth Elohim who deeply admire and respect Maura Lorenzen as an educator and administrator, that Maura was NOT fired from her job at CBE. Maura is leaving her job to pursue this new opportunity at Saint Saviour and our hearts are heavy saying good-bye! She has performed her duties for the families in our community for years and years with great integrity and we will greatly miss her.
    I will add that in all my years of staff meetings with Maura and in observing her interactions with children, parents, community leaders, vendors, CPR trainers, FDNY and NYPD (because her students’ safety is always a primary concern) I have only known her to be a person of the highest character. The families of Saint Saviour will come to love and appreciate Maura as much as all of us at Congregation Beth Elohim.
    Rabbi Andy Bachman

44. I understand that some of the parents (a handful? a minority? a majority? the precise number is unclear to me) are apoplectic about the dismissal of Mr. Flanagan. I must interject, though, that as a parent who is considering the school for her children, the level of vitriol displayed here is not serving your cause well at all. Your assertion is that the dismissal of Mr Flanagan will destroy the school. And yet I have spoken with other families who are considering the school and none of us are keen to walk into a new school where tensions are running this high. Enough already. Please simmer down and try to work this out. Instead of trashing a woman who has not been given a chance to prove herself to you yet, why not turn your energies to establishing a dialogue with Ms. Lorenzen and Fr. Murphy. Like it or not, it does not appear that Mr Flanagan stands a chance of returning to the school. It is time to move forward before you inflict further damage on the repuation of this school many of you claim to love. For the sake of your children, I urge you to lay aside your anger and move on to a more productive way to deal with your disappointment.

45. It is very depressing to think of the very fine and qualified teachers at St. Saviour Elementary who are qualified to be principal, who have worked for decades in the school, and surely thought that they would at least be CONSIDERED to take over for Mr. Flanagan. It will be interesting to find out how many applicants there were. The whole process was so secretive that I am suspecting the worse. There was only one candidate. No interview necessary.

46. Well,
    Mr. Flanagan, a true “Model of Catholic Faith and service” is being ?dismissed/unacknowledged !!/ and kicked in the a**…., so to speak. I haven’t heard of such cronyism in NYC since Boss Tweed! One big happy family for Fr. Murphy and Archdiocese it seems as far as their appointees.
    I don’t know anything about new principal to be, but why now? Even if your Hebrew school didn’t work out? It’s fine to change a workplace, but under such sad unsettled circumstances? What if it were you being let go after 26 years from your reason for living?
    Our current principal lives and breathes for SSES and our children.
    One more year……….

47. Maggie…good to have you back and at least not pretending to be unbiased…when you speak with Maura next ask her about her time on the School Finance Commitee and the positions she took….also ask her about the recent departure of the Executive Director, Eleven Board of Trustee members, several officers and several administrators from Congregation Beth Elohim…perhaps she can explain how right I am

48. Full disclosure is still appropriate here. Parents and parishioners will demand the minutes, notes and all records of the parish council for the times when it met and discussed the school and a possible principal change. Let’s see Maura talking down Mr. Flanagan knowing she was out of a job. Disgusting. Pathetic. Wrong. The blatant conflict of interest is more than troubling, and will not go unaccounted for – I believe it will not stand. In short, as with most things at St. Saviour concerning the pastor, the process was corrupt.

49. John, you are most comprehensive in your refutation of all things Maura Lorenzen. Some of what you write is wrong, of course. Ms. Lorenzen was not let go from her current job, nor does she promote a unilateral 50% raise in the tuition.
    Regarding your worries about her qualifications, you should feel assured that someone who has a degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as Special Education, carries educational gold in their pockets. Ms. Lorenzen’s function as principal is to support, enhance, and lead classroom articulation of State and Çity requirements for each grade. In St. Saviour’s, it also means being a model of Catholic faith and service. Ms. Lorenzen shines on both fronts.
    Again, as I’ve written in this blog before, the parents at St. Saviour’s sound like wonderful collaborators in whole child education. Ms. Lorenzen should not be their target. She’s a gift, regardless of the surrounding dissatisfactions and tensions with the pastor. Let’s move the target off her back.

50. Here is some key information that Father Murphy has neglected to include in his letter announcing Maura Lorenzan as the new principal of Saint Saviour’s:
    1. Maura Lorenzan was appointed by Father Murphy to the School Finance Committee in September 2006. She was one of the key protagonists on the School Finance Committee who sought to have the tuition raised to the cost per student level, which would have resulted in the tuition being increased 50%, up to $5,100 per student. Perhaps serving as a Co-Director of a day care that charges $13,700 for children between the ages of 3 to 5 may have distorted her view of what parents could afford to pay for tuition. Given her prior position, it appears certain that the tuition will be raised to the cost per student for the following school year;
    2. The timing of Mr. Flanagan not being offered a new contract and Maura Lorenzan losing her job at Congregation Beth Elohim as part of their recent changes in administrators at the Temple seems far too coincindental and not the blessing Father Murphy mentions in his letter;
    3. Maura Lorenzan’s degrees are in Early Childhood Development and Special Education. Her experience at Congregation Beth Elohim was in the 2, 3, 4 and 5 year old ages. Over 80% of Saint Saviour’s Elementary School students are over this age group and Maura Lorenzan has no experience or a degree in Elementary Level education;
    4. Although Maura Lorenzan is a life long Parishioner, none of her four children have attended Saint Saviour’s Elementary School;
    5. Father Murphy recently hired Maura’s cousin as Saint Saviour’s Director of Religious Education, who filed a position that is being vacated by his good friend’s wife, Rita Lavin;
    Perhaps full disclosure would have been appropriate.

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