Although suspended from her job as principal with a promise from Interim Superintendent of Schools Fran Rabinowitz “Marilyn Taylor will not be returning to work as a principal in Bridgeport” for allegedly stealing $10,000 from a student activities account, her name is still featured prominently on the Dunbar website as of Sunday.
Despite being on paid administrative leave for six weeks, the website also includes the following welcoming remarks from Taylor.
On behalf of the faculty and staff at P. L. Dunbar, it is my pleasure to welcome you and your scholar to a new school year. As I begin my second school year as Principal of P. L. Dunbar, I am excited and committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our scholars. We will accomplish this by setting high academic expectations for all and by providing support systems to assure they are met. Our school culture has changed dramatically through our PBIS implementation and our decisions are set upon a foundation of “the child is loved.” We have increased our focus of setting high standards for teacher performance, increased academic expectations for all scholars and engaging the community.
My past experience has shown me that it takes a team to help all students reach their maximum potential. I ask that you join us and work collaboratively with the staff at Dunbar to provide an instructional program that is successful your scholar(s). The dedicated and effective faculty and staff at P. L. Dunbar will continue to encourage all students to set high goals for themselves and to reach for their dreams.
It is my hope that all students get involved in our school through athletics, music, drama, student leadership, community volunteerism and school activities and clubs. Working together, we can ensure that the students of Dunbar continue to achieve their highest potential.
The entire faculty and staff thank you for taking this journey with us. I welcome all opportunities to meet with you and can be reached via email at mtaylor@bridgeportedu.net, by phone or by visiting the school Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00-4:00pm.
Together we will make P. L. Dunbar School one of the finest schools in the State of Connecticut.
First off, why are we still paying this person; and second why isn’t she wiped off the school website? Does anyone do what needs to be done in this city?
Each school has a staff member who is also paid an annual stipend to serve as the school’s webmaster. The arrest wasn’t made public until after Christmas break had already begun, therefore it will probably not be addressed until everyone returns back to school.
You don’t think the staff knew when she was placed on leave?
The staff was informed Ms. Taylor was being placed on leave, however they were not told why. The allegations were still being investigated, therefore it would have been inappropriate to remove her from the school’s website. It could have also been used by Ms. Taylor in potential litigation.
Maria, at what point does it become inappropriate to continue to highlight Taylor on the website? Rabinowitz is powerless to do something about this even during a break?
Andy–Maria is absolutely right. Fran Rabinowitz told the staff on Nov 12 that Marilyn Taylor had been placed on administrative leave due to a personnel/personal matter, and that’s ALL Fran Rabinowitz told the staff. A letter went home to parents that day stating there was an investigation of a financial nature being conducted. The staff left on Christmas break BEFORE the news broke about Taylor turning herself in on the warrant. I think the staff returns from Christmas break next week; they will be absolutely sick over this latest turn of events.
Lennie, no, she is not powerless because you would think someone from the IT department could update the school Web site, however I just don’t see the urgency. It is highly unlikely many parents have visited the website since the break started.
I agree with Lennie and Andy here. The staff was told on November 12 the principal was suspended. A note was sent home to the parents and yet the public was kept in the dark. What kind of transparency is this? And what had the Board of Ed been told? This does not pass the simple smell test. Someone was covering for someone.
OK, looked at the site.
bridgeport.ct.schoolwebpages.com/education/school/school.php?sectiondetailid=2638
Holdover Jumoke gibberish and some careless errors.
Let’s pray good riddance is on the way.
In the city of P.T. Barnum in 2015, may we reduce the power of hucksters advancing a costly and deleterious agenda on our communities and reduce our collective tendency for being suckers for anyone–including the revival-meeting dandies and crooks contracted by the state to run grade schools or to provide daycare–promising more than known reality has ever borne.
This sounds like an “arrested development” to me.
Until Taylor no longer works at Dunbar, the website should stay the way it is. Period. There are too many potential disclosure issues with changing ANYTHING. I am no fan of course, but this is just a matter of legal protocol.