By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

An Allenstown mother claiming her sons have been routinely punished unfairly by Armand Dupont School Principal Betsy Cox is circulating a petition calling for Cox’s removal.

Lori Merrill, who has two seventh-grade sons at Dupont, said they’ve been unfairly given detentions and suspensions by Cox for bad behavior, while other students who’ve bullied her sons have gone unpunished.

She said her sons have been singled out by Cox, and said Cox plays favorites among her students.

“She just has a nasty attitude toward the kids,” said Merrill. “People who work in that school will tell you the same thing ­ if something is wrong, certain kids she doesn’t like will get blamed.”

Merrill said other parents, and some school staff, have shared similar stories with her, and she began circulating the petition on the week of Oct. 16.

“A lot of people want this thing signed,” she said.

Allenstown School Board Chairman Tom Irzyk said he was asked at a recent sporting event to sign the petition.

“I don’t know who’s doing the petition, and I don’t think it’s a reasonable step,” he said.

Irzyk said the school board hasn’t fielded any formal complaints about Cox’s performance.

“Dr. Cox has been a great administrator, and she’s done a lot of great things for our schools,” he said.

Cox and SAU 53 Superintendent Tom Haley each declined to comment directly on Merrill’s petition, and said privacy laws prevent them from commenting on Merrill’s claims.

“I’m the professional here,” said Cox, who’s in her fourth year at the head of ARD. “When you deal with children, you have to be respectful of their privacy.”

Said Cox, “I can’t talk to you about the disciplining of children.”

Haley said his comments are limited by privacy laws protecting both students and the district personnel.

He said he has had conversations with Merrill in the past.

“I have spoken with her on occasion, yes,” he said.

As for Merrill’s claims, “I believe those concerns were student-related and I can’t discuss those,” he said.

Merrill said she’s not sure what she plans to do with the petition after she gathers signatures. She said she drafted it after previous confrontations with Cox had been unsuccessful.

Merrill said she last confronted Cox at the school, and told her, “I will have you removed from this school.”

Said Merrill, “She’s laid off some, but it’s too late.”

Merrill said there have been huge spikes in the numbers of behavior-related suspension rates at Dupont since Cox took the helm.

“I had two daughters go through this school system without any problem at all,” said Merrill. “I find it hard to believe that all these kids have been that bad.”

Merrill said Cox had been removed from her previous post as principal at Chester Academy after a similar petition.

Victor Petzy, superintendent of Chester Academy’s SAU 82, said he remembers Cox resigning to find other employment.

“She resigned,” said Petzy. “I certainly don’t remember any petitions.”

Petzy said he sympathizes with the Allenstown School District administration because maintaining privacy in personnel or student matters can be negatively perceived by the community.

“You can’t set the record straight,” he said. “In general, an issue of privacy with a student or a teacher is difficult because there’s very little you can say.”

Irzyk said he thinks the petition’s author should have aired his or her complaints to the school board.

“We never had anyone come to us with any complaint,” he said. “Sending out a petition without going through the proper channels is irresponsible.”

Irzyk said he doesn’t necessarily agree with all the decisions the principals of Allenstown’s two public schools make, but asked, “Who are you going to agree with on everything, all the time?”

Of Cox, Irzyk said, “She runs a tight ship, but she’s a great administrator.”