To the Editor:

I like Kim Izzi. I think she does a good job as principal at St. Rose of Lima School in Warwick.

That is why I feel obligated to push back against the devious and dishonest efforts of the two sanctimonious sisters, Milissa Garrity and Meredith Shanley, who are out to get Mrs. Izzi fired. (“Parents try to oust parochial school principal”, June 19) These self-righteous siblings are on a mission to destroy Izzi’s career as an educator.

Garrity and Shanley, whose spiteful behavior reminds me of Anastasia and Drizella, the mean stepsisters in Cinderella, want to bully Mrs. Izzi out of the job she has held for the past 11 years. And they are more than willing to undermine the reputation of their supposedly “beloved school” if it serves that purpose.

It seems these two troublemakers are throwing a temper tantrum because they didn’t get their way regarding an administrative matter at the school. Their petition to remove Mrs. Izzi is the equivalent of unruly children stamping their feet or holding their breath until their faces turn blue in order to punish their parents.

As reported by John Howell, Milissa Garrity thinks she should be the final arbiter in decisions regarding school personnel. But that is not how a school system operates.

Meredith Shanley claims “her focus is on the kids.” But apparently her concern doesn’t extend to Mrs. Izzi’s three kids, who now must contend with the merciless public persecution of their mother being pursued by Meredith Shanley and her sister.

The two vindictive women have shown no compassion for Mrs. Izzi, who was put in the unenviable position of having to investigate serious allegations made against a popular teacher at the school. To my understanding, that dispute revolves around whether the teacher violated school policy regarding physical contact with students.

The resolution of that issue rests with the teacher and the school administrators. It is not a popularity contest, and it is not something for individual parents to decide.

In my opinion, Mrs. Izzi has dealt with this difficult issue with the best interest of all the students and faculty at St. Rose of Lima School in mind. That is exactly what should be expected of a responsible administrator.

It is unfortunate that Milissa Garrity, Meredith Shanley and her husband, Evan Shanley, who as an attorney ought to know better, lack the insight to appreciate that fact. But that should not deter Mrs. Izzi from continuing her good work as principal at St. Rose of Lima School. She certainly has my full support.

A.H. Liddle

Warwick