Anonymous

Comments: John Shine, This petition you have started in the name of the O’Shields is appalling and absolutely blasphemous. By the O’Shields exposing their contract issue and you taking their “bait” as to the the reasons for their contract not being renewed (you say you are one of those “in the loop”) you all have created a public personal vendetta to have Mrs. Penn expelled under the veil that you can’t allow for an injustice to occur. Statements like “decisions are illegal”, “we’ve all had our frustrations with Mrs. Penn”, and “I have seen our school and parish eroding” are nothing more than embellished statements and falsehoods that create fear and doubt about the environment that many of us are members of. There are many that have not experienced any of the issues you raise and it’s obvious in your writing, that either have you because your letter is filled with innuendos, gossip and accusations of improprieties without any substantiating facts. If Mrs. Penn was acting in such a reckless manner, there would be abnormal rates of turnover within her staff, and a mass exodus of students. One can clearly see the opposite if they choose to look; a low voluntary faculty turnover rate and an enrollment decrease that aligns within the norms of any other school; especially given our current economic environment. You have mentioned 3 families and now 3 faculty members as being “bullied” but you don’t state that there are a lot more families and faculty that have not. If you really fear that bullying is occurring at the school, and an “illegal” act has occurred, then act accordingly. Take your kids out of ESCS and address the legal issue with the appropriate authorities. Anyone who has managed an organization can clearly see that Mrs. Penn is acting in the best interest of the school and with the utmost professionalism. She has not engaged in defending her position, despite being personally attacked, and has not made discipline issues a public matter. Meanwhile, given all the false characterization of her motives and behaviors she has given two of her employees 6 months to find their next job which is a noble act in it of itself and not aligned with your characterization of her. I only urge people to read this for what it is; simply, its some parents who are misinformed about the extents of their rights. You pay tuition for a service to be provided, and if that service is not aligned with you, you go find it elsewhere. Lastly Mr. Shine, the environment you want is for the “inmates to run the asylum” and anyone with any common sense knows that your environment would simply not work. Respectfully submitted