The organizers of Tuesday’s planned walkout have postponed the event for SHS until Thursday afternoon in response to emails from SHS Principal Matt Forker and Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero. However, many Westhill students proceeded with the original planned walkout Tuesday morning.
Forkers’ email to students said, “For the record, I have not been told I am going anywhere.” He added, “I am confident that our school will not be affected with decisions the superintendent chooses to make.”
The protest originated following an original post from a new Instagram account “Save Our Principals,” claiming that Lucero “is trying to rid us of our beloved Stamford High School and Westhill High School principals.” The original post mentioned both Forker and Westhill High School Principal Mike Rinaldi. While Forker has refrained from speaking publicly on the matter until today’s email, Rinaldi has been more vocal on the issue, speaking to the Stamford Advocate and even appearing on PJ Kennedy’s “Hey Stamford!” podcast early Monday morning and discussing his potential relocation.
The same Instagram account also mentioned Rogers Principal Cathy Cummings potentially being up for relocation.
In a Monday email to the Stamford Public Schools community, Lucero said “Stamford Public Schools does not sanction student walkouts, and BOE Policy 5131 states that students who participate in sit-ins or walkouts are subject to disciplinary action.”
Lucero’s email also asked teachers to “encourage students to share their perspectives in ways that do not disrupt the academic school day.” But Stamford Education Association president John Corcoran said in an email to SPS teachers, “please don’t discuss this issue with [students] as the superintendent requested in the last paragraph of her email.”
Forker convened a group of seniors to discuss the planned walkout Monday afternoon. Senior Avery Askew, who was a part of the discussion, said there was also talk of shifting the focus to Athletic Director Chris Passamano, whose job is also potentially jeopardized for next school year.
“Since Forker is apparently in the clear for now, we want to shift our efforts to where they are maybe more needed,” Askew said.