Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 4-2-21

Feature
St. Peter Claver Principal Placed On Administrative Leave
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
In what has been de- scribed “as an emotional time,” several parents of chil- dren at St. Peter Claver Catholic School stood out- side the school on Tuesday (March 23, 20210) to sup- port the principal who was placed on “administrative leave” for the remainder of the school year – when her contract expires.
Christopher L. Pas- tura, Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Cen- ters, Diocese of St. Peters- burg, sent a letter to the parents and guardians that he also shared with the Sen- tinel to express how pleased he is to “report that Bishop Parkes has made the deci- sion that St. Peter Claver will
become the tenth school in the Diocesan School System, joining St. Joseph (Tampa), Sacred Heart (Pinellas Park), St. Anthony (San Antonio), Cathedral School of St. Jude (St. Petersburg), Bishop Larkin (Port Richey), Notre Dame (Spring Hill), St. Patrick (Largo), St. John Paul II (Lecanto) and Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Lutz).”
He continued to say that, “This important develop- ment guarantees that St. Peter Claver Catholic School will continue to serve chil- dren and families for many years to come. You will con- tinue to receive information throughout the rest of the school year about this change.”
Supt. Pastura went on to say, “Secondly, I want to inform you that today
SISTER MARIA BABATUNDE, SSMA
(March 23rd) was Sr. Maria Babatunde’s last day as principal. I am truly thankful for her contribution to the school for the past twelve years. For the remainder of the school year, I will be ap- pointing an interim adminis- trator; more information will
be coming in the next fw days.” He further added that he understands change is dif- ficult, “but I believe that this change is necessary.”
The search committee has already begun interviewing for the next principal for the 2021 school year.
Just as the parents had expected, the school is now under the auspicies of the Diocese, and not the Parish. Deacon James Hooks is the interim principal.
Two weeks ago, the Sen- tinel published an article that the parents were upset that the Diocese was not going to renew the contract of Sister Maria Babatunde, SSMA, who has been princi- pal at the school since 2008.
Mr. Pastura said the principal would be there until her contract expires in June, end of academic year.
The parents are not sure what will happen with Sister Babtunde, but one parent said she told them to keep fighting for the children...be- cause the Diocese is not for the children.
In a letter to the Sentinel, Ms. Debora Barr, a parent and member of the Board, said, “The removal of Sister is concerning enough, how- ever paired with the fact that
under the leadership of Mr. Pastura and Mr. Mark Majeski (who is the Associ- ate Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Centers in the Diocese of St Peters- burg), all the Diocese’s reli- gious sisters (all of whom are women of color) are gone, a very disturbing pattern be- gins to emerge. Sister Maria is the last religious sister and woman of color principal in the diocese’s 36 schools and centers. How can this be? Were there no other religious sisters in the orders able to replace the de- parting sisters?”
Supt. Pastura in- formed the Board via email Tuesday night that St. Peter Claver is no longer a ministry of the St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, but now part of the Diocesan school system.
“However, some of us were there during the school day when Sr. Maria exited. It was very emotional for us, especially for the children.
“Another educationally historical part of Tampa is being dismantled. Only time will tell how long the school will remain open. My bet is not for very long,” the parent said.
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