ORANGE — What is taking so long?
That’s the question on the minds of protesters who gathered at the four-corner intersection of North, South, East and West Main streets Saturday in support of Fisher Hill Elementary School Principal MaureenDonelan, who was cleared by the state of allegations of physical abuse and neglect back in November, but remains on paid administrative leave.
About 25 people held signs reading, “Principal Donelan deserves better,” and, “Save our principal.”
On one corner, five men stood with signs offering quite a different message: “Keep out Donelan,” “She did wrong, now she’s gone,” and, “Protect our children.” Their allegation is that the principal abused a child physically in the fall, which led to her being placed on leave.
But the state’s Department of Children & Families cleared Donelan of any wrongdoing on Nov. 2 after its investigation. A school district investigation has wrapped up, and the three other staff who were placed on paid administrative leave with Donelan last October have been allowed back at work.
Superintendent Tari Thomas has specified that it is her prerogative to reinstate, reassign or dismiss the principal, but with other staff back for over a month now, and the state having cleared Donelan, people are wondering what is going on and why there are no answers.
“We’re at the point where the decision needs to be made,” said Maureen Kolodziej. “Why doesn’t she have her job back? The kids are suffering with her gone, not to mention the support she has from the teachers.”
A letter of support for the principal was signed by the majority of Fisher Hill teachers last November, and, in response to problems with student misbehavior in the school, teachers listed bringing Donelan back into the school as a suggestion on a document given to the Orange Elementary School Committee in January.
Danielle Anderson, who is running for a seat on the School Committee and is on the ballot for the March 4 town election, was holding signs in support of the principal along with her son, a 6-year-old student at the school. Anderson said the Fisher Hill issues surrounding the principal’s absence and student behavior are the reasons she is running for a seat on the School Committee, the body that oversees the superintendent.
Anderson said, as a “DCF parent” who has taken in many foster children over the last 26 years, she is knowledgeable of processes related to allegations of abuse against children. She can’t understand why Donelan is still out.
“Mrs. Donelan has been my son’s go-to person since kindergarten,” Anderson said. “It’s time to be fair. If the superintendent doesn’t want her there, she needs to say so.”
Another parent, Mallory Ellis, rallied in support of the principal with her son, Liam, a kindergartner at the school.
“Maureen has been super,” Ellis said, adding that Donelan being reinstated is “what she deserves.”
Protest organizer Theresa Bergquist was pleased with the rally’s turnout, and noted that many passing cars were waving or honking at the protesters as a sign of support. Bergquist has been active in the Facebook group “Take Back Our Schools,” which formed to support Donelan, as well as in response to the School Committee refusing to accept a “no-confidence” online petition with over 400 “signatures” asking for Thomas to resign — School Committee Vice Chairwoman Amy White correctly noted that the “signatures” had not been vetted, and it is unclear who petitioners really are.
“There really hasn’t been any communication (from school district officials),” Bergquist said. “One of our selectmen, Tom Smith, tried diligently to get answers, and they kept shutting him down. The longer this goes on, it does leave things open to speculation. She’s been cleared. There’s been no finding of wrongdoing.”
Bergquist said taxpayers, regardless of whether they have children in the school, should be concerned because the town is paying a substitute principal while Donelan is on paid leave. She said the situation has given the impression that Thomas has a vendetta against Donelan.
“Why has the superintendent tried so hard to keep Maureen out of school?” Bergquist said. “It’s obvious the kids care.”
The event was not without dissenting opinion, as the five men holding anti-Donelan signs were also greeted by passers-by. One woman told them, “I agree. Keep her out.” The two groups got along without issue.
According to Brian Linstad, his grandson — for whom Linstad and his wife are caretakers — was picked up “like a football” by Donelan, who dragged the kindergartner across the room with a chair caught around the boy’s foot. Linstad alleges that Donelan then shut the boy in a makeshift cool-down room and stood at the door to prevent the child from fleeing.
Officials have released no details about the alleged incidents that led to Donelan and others being put on leave, consistently citing the need for confidentiality, especially when children are involved, and personnel policies.
“I do not want her back in the school,” Linstad said. “The truth will prevail.”
“I don’t think (the protesters supporting the principal) know,” Linstad added. “I hope people will say, ‘If that was my child who was dragged across the room, I’d feel the same.’”
Linstad alleges that his grandson’s classroom had children misbehaving and being chaotic, and the principal was brought to the room. When a piece of paper was allegedly thrown at Donelan, that’s when she picked up his grandson, Linstad said. The “51A” report against Donelan over the incident was filed by a staff member who witnessed the event, according to Linstad.
“He missed lunch that day. It’s child abuse,” Linstad said. “That’s why we’re here. We’re here for my grandson.”
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.