Parent Protest Sparks Surprise BOE Decision

The democratic process was at work on Tuesday night when Superintendent Bing, after listening to a group of distraught parents, reversed his decision to transfer Berkeley Principal Dr. Heather Carr to Brookdale School next September. 

The announcement came as a surprise to many parents who had accused Bing and the school board of having already made their decision before the start of the meeting.  Applause followed Bing’s announcement, accompanied by praise from one parent, Carolyn Petty, who, fighting back tears only an hour earlier, had addressed the board clutching a petition.

“I have the signatures of 80 other parents who are against the transfer of Dr. Carr,” she said at that time.  “We, the representatives of the Berkeley Home and School Association, would like to express our deepest concern and dismay.”

At issue for the Berkeley parents on Tuesday night was Carr’s positive impact on the school and their children. 

“As you know, until Dr. Carr arrived at Berkeley School, our school endured years of very poor leadership and neglect, which led to very severe consequences,” said Petty in her plea to the board.  “Our school was failing academically under the No Child Left Behind Act.  The facility itself suffered, the morale and the school spirit . . . was practically nonexistent by the end of the school year of 2011.  Finally . . . you, Superintendent Bing, recognized the need for change and brought Dr. Carr into our school . . . Finally, we had a principal who was leading Berkeley in the right direction.”

One by one, Berkeley parents and children protested Carr’s proposed transfer.  Even BOE member Paula Zaccone took a turn at the microphone, saying, “This is a very painful conflict of interest for me, but my heart is with the needs of Berkeley School.”

“Take into consideration this vote because, in the future, we’re going to be voting on you,” Berkeley parent Tito Rodriguez warned the board. 

For her part, Carr, who attended the meeting, expressed understanding of both sides of the issue.  Before the decision was handed down, she told Patch, “The superintendent has a vision for the district, and he’s been tremendously supportive of me.

“He’s the quarterback who calls the plays.  If I’m the tight end, I have to honor that he’s the one running the whole show.”

When the board broke up the meeting for executive session, the parents waited in the Bloomfield High School auditorium for nearly an hour to see the outcome of the vote.  Surprisingly, when the board returned, Bing announced that, without the board having taken a vote, he had made a decision. 

“I did make the recommendation . . . to pull the transfer of Dr. Heather Carr,” Bing told the surprised members of the audience.   “She will remain at the Berkeley Elementary School for the 2012-13 school year.”

Applause followed his announcement, which came with a warning to the parents.

“I will hold your feet to the fire and make you keep that commitment [to attend Home and School Association meetings]," he said, "even if it’s me knocking on your door at night, giving you a ride to those meetings.  That’s the only way we’ll continue to improve.”

After the announcement a relieved Petty stood up to thank the board.

“I’m not really sure what happened here.  But I’m thankful.  You did the right thing for our kids.”