Supporters of Leesburg Principal Marv Marino were angry, sad and questioning the honesty of the Warsaw School Corp. administration at Monday's school board meeting.
But for all their frustrations, the Warsaw School Board kept relatively mum on why Marino resigned.
Marino resigned Aug. 14, but had not been at his post prior to his resignation. The school board officially accepted his resignation at Monday's meeting.
School Board President Ron Yeiter said the situation was frustrating to everyone and read the following prepared statement: "Mr. Marino has resigned his employment with Warsaw Community Schools. Warsaw Community Schools has discussed a procedural matter involving Mr. Marino with the Indiana Department of Education. No student has been physically or emotionally harmed. We are not at liberty to share any additional information, which is confidential personnel information. Neither are individual board members at liberty to share additional information."
Before the statement was read, Leesburg parent Denise Schue spoke about Marino's resignation. She indicated she also sent each school board member a letter titled "The Diary of the Rape of Leesburg School" that would answer any questions the school board had.
Schue told the school board, in part, "What we as parents would like to see is the accountability from others in the school administration who were clearly involved in issues that should have only been between Mr. Marino and the superintendent. Facts have proven that other school administrators had a direct involvement in Mr. Marino's untimely departure and that, in itself, is unacceptable. Unfortunately, we do not trust the administration.
"Mr. Marino was guilty of a technicality that, in any other circumstance, would have resulted in hand slapping at worst. ... You have a problem far worse than Mr. Marino's infraction of a technicality. You have administrators and teachers who have only their personal beliefs, jealousy and feelings of inadequacies at heart.
"... We have had a taste of the vast potential of Leesburg School, shown to us by the vision and guidance of Mr. Marino. We will expect no less of the new principal. Do not underestimate the passion the Leesburg School parents now have with this vision. We are a vital part of the educational system. We demand action, accountability and correction. Do not patronize us. We will not forget the rape of Leesburg School and will not rest until the administrators responsible have been held accountable. ... He did not 'just resign.' It was a witch hunt. What happened was very wrong. ..."
Schue also provided to the newspaper a copy of the letter she sent to the Warsaw School Board. The letter is a "somewhat chronological take" on the events that lead to Marino's resignation, according to Schue. It includes names of persons allegedly involved and the events Schue says lead up to Marino's resignation.
Rory Kiphart told the school board Monday, "I just want to stand up and show support for Marino." The rumors that spread around about Marino, he said, were terrible, and he deeply regretted that they were spread. Rumors included that there were three to four grievances from teachers filed against Marino and that the "good ole boys" system railroaded him out.
Kiphart said he understood that personnel information couldn't be given out, but he said he wanted "to be sure we're not trying to keep something under the table."
Marino was a good principal, good for the children, Kiphart said. "Good people are hard to find."
He wanted to know who, as a parent and taxpayer, he could talk to about the situation independently of the Warsaw administration who could say they reviewed all the information in the matter and agree with the decision.
Bonnie Phillips said her boys are sad about starting school without Marino because he made them excited about school. "They don't want to go to school," she said. "What do I tell them tonight?"
Gary Phillips also wanted to know where he could get more information. Haworth said the only other communication would be from the Department of Education. The school board and administration is not at liberty to share additional information.
