KSN&C considers Tweeting the Trial
When Peggy Petrilli abruptly left Booker T Washington Academy in August of 2007, it sent shockwaves through the ranks of school principals in Fayette County and beyond.
Petrilli was Fayette County Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman’s shining example of what a progressive principal should be. Tough; some would say pushy. Innovative. Pertilli was single-minded, with a laser-like focus on student achievement and a my-way-or-the-highway leadership style similar to Silberman’s own.
Petrilli’s task was to prove to the public that strong leadership was sufficient to overcome many social ills that historically plagued schools like Booker T, and become a model of school reform for the state. In January 2005, Silberman told Booker T Washington parents that their children's low-test-score problem was largely the result former principals lacking the ability to motivate the staff. He said principals -- one at a high-scoring school and one at a low-scoring school -- could be switched, and that the scores would flip-flop in two years.
At the end of her second year, following a “secret meeting” between Silberman and parents, Petrilli was suddenly gone.
Did she simply resign?
Was she forced out?
Was her departure made under duress and motivated by illegal reverse racial discrimination?
Was Petrilli retaliated against for some of her strong stands?
Was that retaliation prompted when she blew the whistle on “the wrong” parents for sending their child to BTWA in violation of school board policy against out-of-district attendance?
Did the district stand up for Petrilli? Or did it lay down when parents threatened to go public with their complaints?
Those issues will be resolved by a Fayette County jury beginning next Wednesday.
Petrilli’s task was to prove to the public that strong leadership was sufficient to overcome many social ills that historically plagued schools like Booker T, and become a model of school reform for the state. In January 2005, Silberman told Booker T Washington parents that their children's low-test-score problem was largely the result former principals lacking the ability to motivate the staff. He said principals -- one at a high-scoring school and one at a low-scoring school -- could be switched, and that the scores would flip-flop in two years.
At the end of her second year, following a “secret meeting” between Silberman and parents, Petrilli was suddenly gone.
Did she simply resign?
Was she forced out?
Was her departure made under duress and motivated by illegal reverse racial discrimination?
Was Petrilli retaliated against for some of her strong stands?
Was that retaliation prompted when she blew the whistle on “the wrong” parents for sending their child to BTWA in violation of school board policy against out-of-district attendance?
Did the district stand up for Petrilli? Or did it lay down when parents threatened to go public with their complaints?
Those issues will be resolved by a Fayette County jury beginning next Wednesday.
KSN&C will be covering the trial.
In several upcoming posts, KSN&C will outline the issues and provide a glimpse of the legal theories that will be advanced by the Plaintiff, Peggy Petrilli and the Defendant, Stu Silberman and the Fayette County Board of Education.
We will demonstrate the inordinate level of rancor between the attorneys in this case, which one side has promised to elevate to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, calling for sanctions against the other side.
So stay tuned boys and girls. As Judge James Ishmael has said, “This is a big case. And I’m going to give the plaintiffs an opportunity to put on their proof.”
Note: If my schedule holds up, in addition to blogging, I’m considering Twittering the Trial. Please let me know if that is of interest to KSN&C readers by contacting me or simply commenting below. I haven't been much of a tweeter, but if readers find it useful, I'm willing to try. Find me on Twitter at reday000.
Silberman photo by former H-L photog Janet Worne, Petrilli by H-L.
2 comments:
I think it is well-documented that Stu Silberman bows to public pressure, and therefore I assume Mrs. Petrilli was the victim of an overzealous group of parents out to get her. Perhaps Silberman thought Petrilli would simply resign and seek employment elsewhere. She chose to fight, however.
This litigation, combined with the lawsuit by a guidance counselor at another FCPS junior high school who claimed she was passed up for a position because she was a woman, could very well be the undoing of a superintendent.
It is a pity that there is not much dialog on this site, because I'd love to know how Silberman is viewed by other educators and those who maintain this website.
You are correct to suggest that we don't get a lot of comments on this blog. Since this is a moderated blog and I don't allow flaming, it tends to knock out the guys who simply want to vent by defamation, or who have nothing to say on the topic.
But, there has been a slight up tick in comments lately.
Thanks for yours.
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