By Donald Gilpin

A group of concerned parents has planned a rally for Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. in Hinds Plaza next to the Princeton Public Library to protest the dismissal of Princeton High School Principal Frank Chmiel and to demand transparency from the School Board and superintendent.

“We are hoping to come together as a school community to remind the Board of Education and the superintendent that there has to be more transparency in the decision-making process, and some compassion as well,” said Vijayeta Sinh, one of the parent organizers.

“We are concerned parents,” she added. “The entire way in which this was handled, the way our complaints and grievances have not been heard and not been responded to, it makes one ask the question: ‘Who is the Board serving? Are they truly listening to their constituents and are they trying to make the process straightforward?’ We want the school district to be more transparent on this issue and other issues.”

The BOE, in accordance with state law, has not released information from Chmiel’s personnel file, but lawyers for Chmiel have appealed the district’s decision for nonrenewal and have requested from the superintendent a statement of reasons for Chmiel’s dismissal. The deadline for that statement is next week, and upon receiving it the lawyers plan to request a hearing in which Chmiel and his attorneys will respond to the statement and make Chmiel’s case for renewal. 

Petitions continue to circulate supporting Chmiel and calling for his reinstatement, calling for the resignation of Superintendent Carol Kelley, and demanding transparency from the BOE.