“BRING BACK CHMIEL!”: More than 100 demonstrators gathered in Hinds Plaza on Sunday afternoon to protest last month’s ouster of Princeton High School Principal Frank Chmiel and to support what is likely to be an appeal hearing with Chmiel and his lawyers making their case before the Princeton Public Schools’ superintendent and Board of Education. (Photo by Mimi Omiecinski)

By Donald Gilpin

More than a month since his sudden dismissal as Princeton High School (PHS) principal on March 17, Frank Chmiel and his lawyers are awaiting the delivery from Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Carol Kelley of a statement of reasons for the decision to place Chmiel on administrative leave.

New Interim Principal Kathie Foster has been installed at PHS since March 30, but neither Chmiel nor his supporters — more than 100 turned out for an April 16 rally in Hinds Plaza to “Save Princeton High School! Reinstate Principal Chmiel!” — are ready to move on.

On receiving the reasons for dismissal from the superintendent, Chmiel, according to his lawyers who expect the statement to arrive on Thursday, April 20, will most likely request a hearing, which he may or may not choose to make public, in which he and his lawyers will appeal the decision. The PPS Board of Education (BOE), in accordance with state law, will not release information from Chmiel’s personnel file unless he waives his right to privacy.

At the two-hour rally on Sunday, about 20 different speakers — mostly parents of PHS students, along with a few students and other community members — praised Chmiel and his contributions to PHS over the past two years. Many criticized the superintendent and the BOE, claiming lack of transparency in the decision-making process, along with an unwillingness to listen and lack of appreciation for Chmiel’s positive influence on PHS and its students. Many voiced determination to continue the fight in
support of Chmiel and in opposition to the BOE and superintendent.

“I’m here because I think this is a really important fight that we need to make,” said Dave Auger, whose two daughters attend PHS. Arguing that Chmiel is a force for inclusion as opposed to the bullying that he faces from the district administration, Auger described him as “someone who welcomed all of our kids to school every day in the middle of a pandemic and made them feel special, made them

feel that high school maybe wasn’t so scary or such a difficult place to go.”

Auger’s wife Elyse added, “I feel Mr. Chmiel was treated incredibly unfairly. He has been one of the best things for the school. He created such an inclusive environment, and he made the kids want to be there. He should be reinstated.”

Sasha Weinstein, a PHS parent and one of the rally organizers, emphasized the problems with frequent changes in leadership at PHS and in the district. “At Princeton High School we need stability,” she said. “We need good, kind, community-building; supportive advocates for the students and parents; and positive leadership. From my experience working with many principals as an active parent volunteer in the public schools for over 15 years, the school leader we need is Frank Chmiel. He is an extraordinary principal.”

Another PHS parent, Pamela Strum, reflected the mood of the crowd, which seemed committed to supporting Chmiel and determined to carry on the fight regardless of the outcome of hearings or other proceedings. “The school spirit he generates is really phenomenal,” she said. “We feel great joy that he is defending himself. He’s not backing down. I hope he feels our support.”

Evan Kang, a PHS sophomore attending the rally, said he was confused and angry that Chmiel had been dismissed so abruptly. “All my impressions of him were very good,” he noted. “He got to know everyone by name, and he made an effort to build a community around the school. He would say hello to everyone, and he just had a positive impact on the ecosystem of the school.”

A parent volunteer at the rally stated that the rally had been a success and that the parents and students are carrying on their efforts to overturn the superintendent’s decision. “The parent and student community still believes that this wrong can be made right,” she said. “We came together to share our positive experiences with Mr. Chmiel and our disdain over the way the BOE continues to respond.”

She added, “Parents are eagerly awaiting the reasons for dismissal yet to be released by the Board and looking into forming a recall committee to look into this further.”