In move that perplexes huge audience, Linda Murphy is out as Morristown High principal

In what may go down as Morristown’s greatest mystery since the 2010 library explosion, popular Morristown High School Principal Linda Murphy on Monday night agreed to take a newly created post as “director of human resources and community engagement” for the Morris School District and retire next year.

The move was announced at the school board meeting after more than four hours of closed-door legal negotiations, during which a huge audience of Linda’s supporters stewed in suspense.

Around 11 p.m., statements finally were read by Linda and Superintendent Thomas Ficarra–who recruited Linda seven years ago for the top job at MHS. A parade of parents, teachers and students past and present stayed past midnight to give glowing testimonials, some with tears and hugs for the outgoing principal, extolling her compassionate leadership and the difference she made in their lives.

Young African-American women praised the black educator as a role model; several speakers implored the board to reconsider this reassignment while others demanded to know why Linda would not be allowed to serve out her last year helping a new principal make a smooth transition.

But the board voted 7-0 to name retired Frelinghuysen Middle School Principal Ethel Minchello as MHS interim principal for one year, effective July 2, at an annual salary of $153,822.

“It was a very difficult decision,” but one the board will not reconsider, board President Nancy Bangiola said after the marathon session, which drew so many people to the Lafayette Learning Center that many had to stand in a hallway.  Almost all of them stayed until the end.

Although legally constrained from discussing particulars of the decision, Nancy wanted to put one rumor to rest. “It is not connected with the Lennon Baldwin case,” she said, referring to the March suicide of a white freshman. Three black students have been charged in what authorities are treating as a bullying case.

The mother of Lennon Baldwin has started procedures for a wrongful death lawsuit against the Morris School District, and the Superintendent has announced an internal investigation.

Nancy Bangiola would not discuss whether broader issues of bullying were factors in Linda Murphy’s reassignment.

An African-American mother in the audience, Ann Banks, suggested Linda was being penalized for meeting with black parents to address concerns about the “achievement gap” in test scores between minorities and white students. “She’s being railroaded,” Ann said.

Nancy Bangiola dismissed that theory, too, saying that many board members have participated in the same meetings with parents.

“She is a wonderful person. She is not getting the boot,” the board president said of Linda, a former math teacher and graduate of Morristown High who will make $179,600 in her new job. As MHS principal, Linda earned $155,600 in 2010-11.

Superintendent Thomas Ficarra wanted to transfer Linda to the Lafayette Early Learning Center, as its principal. When she informed him of her plans to retire next year, he said, the new position was created with her input, to “apply her talents across the school district.

“In this role,” the Superintendent continued in a carefully crafted statement, “she will be responsible for helping to develop programs that ensure the District  has an operational and educational environment that treats students and adults fairly and with equity, and that does not tolerate discrimination, harassment or prejudice.”  (Full statement at bottom of story.)

“As a member of the Morristown community and in my role as principal, I have come to realize that there are so many more children in the District who need our support,” Linda said in her statement. “This is a role that will allow me to help make the schools in the District a place where all children can succeed in an environment where they are treated with dignity, respect, and tolerance.”

Accepting the new job “with great enthusiasm,” Linda added that her decision to retire had been reached privately “long before the events of the past few days” and expressed hope that “this wonderful energy in the room” can be channeled to enhance the success of students across the district. (Full statement below.) 

She and her attorney, former New Jersey State State Bar Association President Karol Corbin Walker, declined to comment further.

Which left Linda’s supporters scratching their heads.

“I’m still stunned,” said the Rev. Jerry Carter, Linda’s pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. “The details for me are still sketchy…The way this happened was controversial. I hope something good comes of this.”

MHS alum Wayne Johnson, a teacher, cited Linda as his inspiration. Everything said throughout the evening “says you should stay” as principal, he told her, to enthusiastic applause.

Charles Lamb, director of the Morristown campus of the County College of Morris, expressed similar sentiments. “I do not understand, from the comments I heard tonight, why she is being removed. I do not accept the solution that you have arrived at.”

Morristown resident Helen Arnold put it more bluntly to the board: “It was a sick deal that you have hurt our children with. It was not right.”

Board member Leonard Posey acknowledged the frustrations of many.

“A lot of what those people said is the Linda Murphy I know–a generous, caring person,” he said after the meeting. Board members Teresa Murphy (no relation to the principal), Fran Rossoff and Angela Rieck were absent.

Linda’s departure as principal struck many observers as sudden. Morristown Councilwoman Raline Smith-Reid, an MHS graduate and Calvary member, said word only started trickling out on Friday–a day after Linda gave a commencement speech urging the Class of 2012 to emulate the preparation and family teamwork of Niagara Falls tightrope-walker Nik Wallenda.

Many got wind of Linda’s situation at Sunday church services, while others learned of the Monday meeting at the last minute.

Twice during the long night, Nancy Bangiola emerged from the closed session to report that a settlement was near. The crowd expressed anger the second time at being left in the dark for so long, and at what some perceived as shabby treatment of Linda.

“She is the face of Morristown High, someone who really gets it. She’s the perfect person for the job, and you treat her like this? How are you going to find another person as passionate about Morristown High School as she is?” said Stephanie Crowley, an MHS graduate with two children in the school.

“This is no way to treat anybody,” said Lorraine Sims, whose six children and two grandchildren have attended Morris District schools.

Nancy, who is executive director of the Morris County Bar Association, attributed the drawn-out negotiations to necessary “word-smithing” by board Attorney Vito Gagliardi and Linda’s lawyer.  The agreement was too important to rush, she said.

Andrena Martin, Linda’s classmate at Frelinghuysen Middle School, was among those upset to see Linda facing controversy.

“It makes me very proud to see a black woman, especially one I’ve grown up with, reach to this level,” she said.

Another MHS alum described the diverse, 1,457-student school as chaotic and dangerous before Linda took the reins. One of Linda’s predecessors got punched in the face by a student, the young woman recounted.

Speakers insisted the public be involved in choosing Linda’s successor at the high school. Nancy Bangiola assured them that residents would be part of a deliberate, methodical quest for “excellence.”

Stay tuned for more coverage…

STATEMENT BY SUPERINTENDENT THOMAS FICARRA:

We want to thank Linda Murphy for her leadership at Morristown High School. I recruited Linda seven years ago. I did so because of her natural ability to bring people together and to engage the community. In Linda’s seven years as the principal at Morristown High School, she has been instrumental in improving the culture and learning environment of the school. As a result, I originally considered asking her to accept a transfer as principal to the Lafayette Early Learning Center.

However, Ms. Murphy then advised me that she had intended to retire as of June 30, 2013. I would never want to put someone in as principal who was leaving in a year, and as we thought about her ability to engage diverse communities, we concluded that it would be in the best interest of the district if we asked Linda to apply her talents across the school district. Therefore, I have asked Linda to accept the position as “Director of Human Resources and Community Engagement” and she has agreed to do so. In this role, which Linda has helped to define, she will be responsible for helping to develop programs that ensure the District has an operational and educational environment that treats students and adults fairly and with equity, and that does not tolerate discrimination, harassment or prejudice.

STATEMENT BY LINDA MURPHY

I want to thank Superintendent Dr. Tom Ficarra and the Morris School District for all of the support they have provided to me over the years. It has been a privilege to work together in our mutual goal to make Morristown High School a place where all children can succeed. I appreciated the fact that Dr. Ficarra recruited me to be the principal of Morristown High School over seven years ago, because of my natural ability to connect with people.

I have enjoyed my experience as principal. One of the reasons is because it has allowed me to develop relationships with so many children and families that make up the Morristown High School. As a member of the Morristown community and in my role as principal, I have come to realize that there are so many more children in the District who need our support. As my career reaches the next stage it is with great enthusiasm that I have accepted the position of “Director of Human Resources and Community Engagement.” This is a role that will allow me to help make the school in the District a place where all children can succeed in an environment where they are treated with dignity, respect and tolerance. Since I had planned to retire in a year, a decision I reached privately long before the events of the past few days, I am happy to report that the Board, with Dr. Ficarra’s recommendation, is committed to support these important endeavors even after I retire at the end of June 2013.

I want to sincerely thank all of you who came out to support me tonight. In my new role, I will continue to need your support more than ever to work with me, Dr. Ficarra and the District to achieve these goals. It is my sincere hope that we can take this wonderful energy in the room and use it to move forward on our new journey to make the Morris School District a place where all children can succeed. Thank you again for all of your support.