Board Votes To Appoint Interim Principal At Princeton High School

PRINCETON, NJ — The Board of Education on Tuesday voted unanimously to appoint Kathie Foster as the interim principal of Princeton High School, replacing Frank Chmiel.

The Board voted through a consent agenda. The meeting room was packed with parents who displayed signs in support of reinstating Chmiel. More than 500 people tuned in on Zoom.

Foster was hired for $820 per day, until June 30 the end of the current semester.

"I am not replacing anybody," Foster said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. "I am excited to be stepping in to help. As an interim, I will provide support to the administrative team to ensure a successful completion of the school year."

Foster is expected to be in place as interim principal at Princeton High School when students and staff return from spring break on Monday, April 10.

At the beginning of the meeting, Superintendent Carol Kelley addressed the replacement of Chmiel and the community protests that followed.

Kelley said a key part of her role as Superintendent was to make difficult decisions on behalf of people with different viewpoints.

“I want you to know that those decisions are never personal but in the best interest of students, staff and our PPS community. My goal has always been to lead with integrity, fairness and hope for better for our children. It’s unfortunate that some members of our community don’t believe that,” Kelley said.

The Superintendent said she respected everyone’s rights to express themselves through protests, or public comment.

“What is most disappointing is the way in which some of these concerns have been expressed. Over the past few days, I have received messages and photos to my email that can only be described as personal attacks. That has not been a depiction of what I've known this community to be,” Kelley said.

She thanked the BOE, the administrative team at the high school, PHS leaders and staff who stepped up to support students during the transition.

Kelley was booed during her speech and Board president Dafna Kendal had to step in to bring order to the proceedings.

More:

Princeton Principal Begins Legal Fight For Reinstatement, BOE Responds

In New Petition Princeton Parents Seeks Superintendent Removal

Interim Principal To Be Named, Rally Held Outside Princeton HS

During the public comment section, students expressed their disappointment over Chmiel’s ouster, saying the BOE did not take student views into consideration before making the decision.

“The way Mr. Chmiel was dismissed was not only an insult to him but an insult to the PHS community and students who care deeply about our school’s leadership,” the student said.

“If the board of Education truly cares about the students and our well-being, then maybe they should think twice before making sudden changes in leadership in the middle of the second semester with only a few months left in the year.”

The student noted that constant administrative turnover was detrimental to student learning and mental health.

Cecilia Birge, Assistant Principal at PHS said students were intelligent and resilient and will emerge from the conflict stronger. She thanked the school staff for being role models to students engaging in the “democratic process.”

“The best learning happens in the classrooms with teachers being present. At dinner tables with engaged adults listening and sharing and yes, at events such as tonight where we can exercise our democratic rights with respect for each other,” Birge said. She supported the appointment of Foster as interim principal, saying her presence will bring calmness to the school.

Residents who spoke during the meeting said there were strong emotions around the issue because people really cared about public education. Residents also told the Board that the community wanted to work with them to find solutions but did not approve of the decision which they deemed “authoritative.”

"I think you can set the conditions for rebuilding trust and good faith," a resident told the BOE. "We need to bring the community together and this is not the way to do it."

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