Although cleared by Warwick police and the state Department of Children, Youth & Families of any inappropriate behavior that could lead to criminal charges, a beloved St. Rose of Lima gym teacher has left his job because the school will not exonerate him – and now an online petition signed by more than 580 people is calling for the resignation or dismissal of school principal Kim Izzi.

Furthermore, the issue has become the topic of social media posts that have brought to light other parental complaints about the school’s administration and an exodus from the school.

A mother of four children, Milissa Garrity, said she was contacted by school authorities about two weeks ago and told that, based on a video showing her 6-year old daughter sitting with gym teacher Bob Petrarca, who has worked for the school for 19 years, the police had been notified, as had the DCYF.

Garrity said she was shown a “grainy” video and figured the girl pictured was her daughter because of her blond hair. Garrity, who has volunteered to help in an afterschool program, didn’t see anything inappropriate in the video. She pointed out many kids are friendly with Petrarca and are delighted when they see him and give him a hug. Garrity was not told how the school obtained the video. Yet she fully agrees with the school’s decision to call in the authorities. She said the school system has a responsibility to follow up on reports of inappropriate behavior.

‘Case thrown out’

Garrity was told police viewed the video and found no reason to investigate the matter. “The case was thrown out,” she said.

That would have likely been the end of the incident had Izzi and the parish priest, Fr. Andrew Messina, reinstated Petrarca after placing him on paid leave. Instead, according to Evan Shanley, another St. Rose of Lima parent, Petrarca refused to sign a document returning him to his job because it didn’t clear him of allegations of misdeeds. Shanley and his wife, Meredith, have withdrawn their son, a second-grader, from the school and canceled plans to send their daughter to kindergarten there this fall. Garrity and Meredith Shanley are sisters.

Online petition circulated

Garrity wanted to learn more.

She talked with other parents and learned they were not allowed to see the video and didn’t understand why Petrarca hadn’t been reinstated. Meredith Shanley said she and her sister confirmed that Warwick police and the DCYF saw no reason to follow up on the complaint. Last week Garrity went on Change.org to post an online petition calling for new school leadership. In part it reads, “the current administration has displayed a pattern and practice of intentionally and repeatedly misleading parents, failed to address a culture of bullying within the school, failed to protect innocent and highly effective teachers, and failed to appropriately supervise, support and hold staff to a reasonable standard of performance.”

Within the first day the petition garnered 100 signatures. Change.org contacted Garrity and said the website had been asked to take the petition down. Garrity said she provided information including names and correspondence not included in the petition. School administration is referenced in the petition but not the principal’s name. The petition stayed online.

Students expelled from school

Throughout, Garrity was in touch with William Klements, the superintendent of diocesan schools.

She said he asked that the petition be taken down so the parties could meet, but she said that would have to wait because the family was going away for the weekend and she wouldn’t have computer access. On Friday at 5:30 p.m. she received a call that her daughter and 7-year old son “were no longer allowed back at the school.” She was informed her children’s records would show they had completed their grades for the year but they would not be permitted to attend end-of-year ceremonies.

She said Klements told her it was out of his hands and the decision was that of Fr. Messina and Principal Izzi. Meredith, a teacher for 17 years – much of it in Warwick schools, who now works with the LEA program at Park School – has likewise been in communication with Klements.

“He’s wonderful,” she said explaining Klements’ willingness to listen and discuss the situation.

The Beacon reached Klements by phone, and he requested that questions be submitted in an email. Of the nine questions, he responded to some but not all of them. This is what he said.

Diocesan superintendent 

responds

“Thanks for your inquiry. It sounds like you’ve received some information that may not be entirely accurate and we’d like to help clarify that for you.

“We take parent concerns seriously and all our Catholic schools work and partner closely with parents as first educators of their children. Partnering with parents does involve listening attentively to their concerns, and that has always been the goal at Saint Rose of Lima School. Both the school administration and the Catholic Schools Office have met with and had conversations with parents to hear their concerns. The school and diocese will continue to have those open conversations with families as needed to reassure them that the school does and will continue to provide an exceptional Catholic education in a safe and caring environment for everyone.

“While as a policy we don’t comment on personnel matters, we can confirm that Mr. Petrarca was not terminated and was invited to return to his position at the school, which he declined to do. As to your questions about expulsion of students, we also don’t comment on individual students or family cases as a matter of policy. What we can say is that in general, expulsions are serious matters that are not taken without much consideration and as a last resort. Expulsions for violations of the school’s handbook and policies are rare but are sometimes necessary and within the school’s purview to do so.

“Saint Rose of Lima School had a successful school year and looks forward to welcoming families and students back for another school year in the fall.”

The Beacon also called the school Tuesday and left a voice message with Izzi. She had not replied as of Wednesday early afternoon.

Principal targeted

Meredith Shanley says her focus is on the kids and what she regards as Izzi’s lack of communication with parents and inattention to what’s happening in the school. She sees no alternative than for Izzi to leave, and according to her count, at least 15 parents have withdrawn their children from the school.

She helped write the petition that reads, in part: “No one wants to see someone lose their job and it’s uncomfortable to put parents in a position where they have to ask for a school administrator to be fired. However, we have no choice because that’s the position we have been forced into. Someone who has demonstrated an inability to meet the basic expectations of truthfulness, competence and empathy is not fit to lead our beloved school. This situation is serious and demands your immediate attention and action. Should you fail to take action, many of us will be forced to find a new school for our children and that is the last thing in the world we want to do.”

Christina Woodbine said she has withdrawn her two children from the school, adding in an email “as long as Kim Izzi is principal, my kids will never be in that building.”