OLD TOWN — Franklin Fine Arts Center has named a new principal.
The Local School Council voted Tuesday evening to name Kurt Jones the new head of the Old Town magnet arts school, 225 W. Evergreen Ave., effective July 1, according to the school's email newsletter.
Jones comes to Franklin by way of Arthur A. Libby Elementary & Middle School, 5300 S. Loomis Blvd., in Englewood, where he was the principal for nine years. There he built an arts program modeled after his prior experience at Franklin, where he was a math teacher and administrative intern for five years, according to the newsletter.
Some parents were outraged by the LSC's sudden decision to part ways with the school's former principal, Margie D. Smagacz. They thought Smagacz was an "amazing" principal.
In the LSC's January vote, nine of the 11 members abstained from voting and two voted to renew Smagacz's contract. None of the members voted no. Since Smagacz did not receive the required six yes votes, her contract was not renewed.
"I'm going to say it to your face. You all are a bunch of cowards," parent Tara Stamps said at a previous LSC meeting.
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