Proposed Tuition Increases May Be Issue in Non-renewal of Flanagan's Contract

Here is a letter from a Saint Saviour's parent that contains some interesting information about proposed tuition increases at the Catholic school that may be the reason for a conflict between Fr. Murphy and principal Flanagan.

The letter released today from Principal Flanagan of St. Saviour School Brooklyn,  outlining the story of his dismissal to date. Note that disagreement with the pastor about proposed tuition increases  seems to be the core issue in the sacking.

Half of St Saviour's student body come from socio-economically challenged neighborhoods in Brooklyn.  Providing a quality education to the economically disadvantaged is a core tenet of the Catholic education model as it has been historically delivered at St. Saviour School. Note also that proper review  procedures were not observed in the sacking of Mr Flanagan, with the result that Mr Flanagan is seeking intervention from the Brooklyn Diocese . He seeks mediation after winning an arbitration judgement that resulted in no change of position on the sacking by Fr. Daniel Murphy.

This new information points to a larger story about what is to change and what remains the same as  Catholic Education seeks to re-invent itself .  The old autocratic religious hierarchy is in full effect in the execution of this autocratic dismissal; no information or notification given to parents, no recourse or communication  forthcoming throughout the period of protest. Though laity are supposed to take a bigger role in redefining Catholic Education  for the future, as outlined in the document 'Preserving the Vision', in this case the diocese is abdicating all responsibility for the Pastor's actions, and allowing him full autonomy, even if procedurally he has erred.   This leaves the paying parents of St. Saviour school without a recourse other than broad public protest in their effort to retain a highly successful principal.  No information has been issued by the parish or diocese as to Fr. Murphy's vision of education or why Mr Flanagan does not fit into this vision.  Parents don't know how they should close the school year.  They remain without the knowledge of what awaits their children in the fall and have heard nothing from the diocese on any prospect of mediation.

The crass idea that a high performing school in a rich neighborhood could provide the parish with a cash cow, is not far from parishioners minds, as I write.   Those who live in Park Slope and are seeking a quality education for their children might consider St. Saviour given the other private schools in the neighborhood cost between 25 -30K per child per year . For  the children of Bed Stuyvesant and Crown Heights who currently attend St. Saviour,  if tuition does increase from the current 3.5K to 5k - 10K, they'll be out in the cold.

If you would like to find out more information on this story please visit www.stsaviours.wordpress.com or contact brolsmacindy@yahoo.com