In New Petition, Princeton Parents Seek Superintendent Removal, Principal Reinstatement

PRINCETON, NJ – After hosting a protest outside the high school and attending the Board meeting on Tuesday in support of principal Frank Chmiel, Princeton school district parents have started a petition calling for the removal of Superintendent Carol Kelley.

The Change.org petition by Lisa Potter calls for the immediate resignation of Kelley and the reinstatement of Chmiel.

The school district replaced Chmiel as principal of Princeton High School on March 17, with assistant principals Rashone Johnson and Cecilia Birge jointly assuming responsibilities on a “temporary basis.”

“The Princeton High School students and parents are frustrated and very upset with the lack of transparency, accountability and respect from Superintendent Dr. Carol Kelley,” reads the petition. “We are requesting for her resignation immediately, and the reinstatement of Princeton High School Principal, Mr. Frank Chmiel.”

According to the petition, Kelley, who is serving her second year as Superintendent, has caused “immeasurable mental distress and harm” to the high school community.

“Instead of focusing on their education, students from the high school are spending time and energy fighting against the sudden removal of their beloved Principal Frank Chmiel,” the petition says.

Petitioners said that Kelley refused to listen to student voices and noted that students "rallied another petition last week that gathered more than 2,400 signatures in two days.”

“Princeton High School is the flagship of the Princeton school district. Many moved here because of its stellar reputation. We have no confidence of Dr. Kelley's leadership to help maintain our school's reputation and ranking now or in the future,” according to the petition.

As of Thursday, the petition has garnered over 1,300 signatures

Around 1,000 community members attended Tuesday’s Board meeting, overwhelmingly speaking in support of Chmiel and expressing disappointment over his removal.

Board attorney Vic LaPira told the community that the Board will not be discussing any specifics about Chmiel and would refrain from discussing any employee's performance in a public forum due to the privacy rights of employees.

He noted that dismissed staff can ask for a hearing before the board in a closed session unless they waive their privacy rights and choose the hearing to be held in public. LaPira added that the Board does not act independently in matters of hiring personnel and acts on the recommendation made by the Superintendent.

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