ANDERSONVILLE — Some parents felt "blindsided" and alienated when the Local School Council at Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies voted to part ways with Principal Nancy Mendez in the wake of a student's suicide.
They said Mendez had been a great principal.
"I'm very disappointed in the LSC," said parent Esther Bello, addressing other parents and council members at a community forum Monday night in the auditorium of the school at 1423 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
She added the school was performing well in recent years and had "many new programs" thanks to Mendez.
In January, eight of the council's 11 members voted against renewing Mendez's contract. Maria Rodriguez, a community representative on the council, told DNAinfo Chicago then that the principal's response to the suicide of 12-year-old McKenzie Phlipot, whose parents claim bullying at the school was to blame, was a "catalyst."
But some of the bigger issues that led to the vote, she said, were a lack of communication, not meeting yearly goals set by the council and not being accessible.
In October, McKenzie's mother filed a lawsuit against Chicago Public Schools about the alleged bullying. An internal CPS investigation found "no credible evidence" that McKenzie was bullied at the school before her suicide.
Rodriguez said the council sought input from parents and teachers by distributing surveys. But Bello and another parent said they did not receive surveys.
After Bello spoke, her fourth-grade son, Brandon Silva, took the podium. He said "all of the students were sad" once they found out Mendez could be leaving the school.
"Whenever I had problems, [Principal Mendez] was always there," said Silva, who broke into tears after speaking to the crowd.
Another parent held a sign that read: "Ms. Mendez is a good principal. She has taken forward this school. People did not take that into account for the removal of her contract."
"I think the time for public input should've been before the vote, not afterward," said another parent, who received applause from the crowd.
The vote has caused a "split down the middle" between parents who support the council's decision and those who don't, according to parent Tara Mack.
But Mack said the forum provided an opportunity for parents to talk to one another.
"Regardless of what happens with Mendez, we still have to be a school and work together," she said.
Karen Dreyfuss, an Edgewater resident and education liaison for the 48th Ward Ald. Harry Osterman, told the crowd that she's been "really feeling the divide lately."
An arbitration process will decide Mendez's fate. On March 6, a hearing officer will decide whether to retain Mendez.
While the arbitration process is underway, the council will proceed with looking for a new principal, which the group must select by May 15.
After the public comment portion of the meeting, Joe Dunne, a member of the council and chairman of the principal selection committee, told the crowd that he encouraged all parents to participate in choosing a new principal.
"This is the single most important decision we'll make all year," Dunne said.
Parents who are not council members are invited to join the selection committee, he said. They will act as advisors, and will not be able to vote, he added. The committee is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Several parents got up and left during Dunne's presentation.
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