Roncalli accused of silencing students who supported ousted guidance counselor

[Muda69]

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2019/08/17/catholic-school-controversy-roncalli-accused-of-silencing-students-who-supported-ousted-counselor/2032262001/

Quote

Roncalli High School is being accused of silencing and threatening to expel two recent graduates who spoke out during their senior year on behalf of a guidance counselor who was placed on leave and eventually fired because of her same-sex marriage.

The allegations are being levied by 2019 Roncalli graduate Dominic Conover and classmate Elijah Mahan’s mother, Erica Garrity. In addition to silencing her son, Garrity said the retaliation went a step further when the school tried to raise her son's tuition in the middle of his senior year.

She recently won a small claims court case in the dispute, but the school may appeal.

IndyStar contacted Roncalli and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Friday about the allegations. The archdiocese, which governs Roncalli and other Catholic schools, didn't directly address a question about threats of disciplinary action but said a meeting that the school held last year that included Conover, Mahan and their parents was designed to "outline expectations."

"It was never our intent to silence students, but rather help them understand the appropriate forums to address their concerns and have their voices heard," said Gina Fleming, superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese, which governs Roncalli and other Catholic schools.

Mahan and Conover were seniors at Roncalli last year when they and a handful of other students led an effort to advocate for the counselor, Shelly Fitzgerald. Mahan notably carried a pride flag onto the field during the first football game of last season to show support for Fitzgerald and LGBTQ rights.

Fitzgerald was suspended from Roncalli, and later fired, because of her marriage to another woman. A second counselor at Roncalli and a teacher at another IndianapolisCatholic high school have since been fired for being in same-sex marriages, also.

That group of students eventually formed Shelly’s Voice, an organization advocating for change at their school and for the archdiocese to allow gay, married teachers and counselors like Fitzgerald to work in Catholic schools. Over several months, the group raised thousands of dollars and was featured with Fitzgerald on the "Ellen" show but grew quiet during the second semester, Conover said, because school officials threatened to suspend or expel them.

“I traded my silence for my diploma in order to graduate from that school,” said Conover, who is starting at Butler University this month.

Garrity also said her son and other students who spoke out in support of Fitzgerald and LGBTQ rights were threatened with suspension or expulsion.

Then, at the start of the second semester, Garrity said the school told her she owed an extra $1,500 in tuition before her soncould sit for final exams or have his transcripts released to colleges.

“So then it’s, how can I get him able to take his finals and not impact his future?”

Garrity took the school to small claims court.

She won — though, the school may appeal. 

"The small claims court judgment is subject to appeal and therefore not final, so we cannot comment on it," Fleming said.

....

Not surprised.