GALEWOOD — Parents, as well as former and current teachers, of Sayre Language Academy said the school's culture has deteriorated to the point that a public campaign is needed to fix it.
Since losing at least 37 teachers since 2011, according to the Chicago Teachers Union, some parents and people close to the school said they have determined that change is needed at Sayre, 1850 N. Newland Ave.
A group of parents have asked principal Suzana Ustabecir for her resignation and have circulated a petition calling for her principal's ouster. She did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
After DNAinfo Chicago on Wednesday reported on the condition of the school, readers took to Facebook and Neighborhood Square to weigh in.
"It's time to take back our school and turn it back into a positive learning environment that [it once] was," said Facebook reader Kristen M. "I'm very optimistic that change will be coming to Sayre. As an alumni and current parent of Sayre it is disheartening that it has gotten to this point."
READ: SCHOOL'S 'TOXIC' CULTURE LEADS TEACHERS TO QUIT, 'KIDS RUN AMOK'; CRITICS
Readers were quick to point out who is really effected by the turmoil: students.
One reader said she was a "faithful parent" of Sayre for 9 years, until the massive turnover in teachers turned into a real problem, she said.
"I could not and will not [compromise] my daughter's education with the inconsistencies of the staff. I have also witnessed staff (teachers) being demoralized by leadership in front of students," she wrote. "Let me set the record straight that the school has not always been like this!"
Parents say their kids don't have homework because substitutes are in the class for prolonged periods. A major problem, they contend, is bullying that has largely gone unaddressed.
One reader emailed in to say that she took her five children out of Sayre last year, after her kids were complaining of bullying and one didn't have a permanent teacher for a whole year.
"We went to the school 10 times regarding the bullying and nothing was ever done," she said.
"Thankfully, family members have fled this rotten school," one reader wrote on Neighborhood Square. "Kids are horrible, nasty bullies. And nothing is done to alleviate that. I don't know what other issues are going on, but my family members were constantly being bullied."
One reader asked why nothing was done until now, especially since the principal was given a contract extension nearly three years ago.
"My child has been at Sayre for two years and in the short timeframe I've seen and heard so much negativity," one reader said. "My question to many parents of this school is; Why were you not suspicious that so many teachers are leaving? Why was it that nobody question[ed] the fact that there's no after school activities?"
But some readers accused those who want to oust the principal of being on a "witch hunt."
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