Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Students, teachers, trustees and community members of Nardin Academy are continuing their cries for the president of the academy, Dr. Sandra Betters, to resign from her position.
Last week, students walked out of their classrooms to protest the "toxic work and learning environment," including the leadership decisions of the Academy President and Board of Trustees Chair, Tish Van Dyke.
Students this Thursday, also conducted a 'walk-in' where students came in with signs and stood in solidarity, according to a report from WGRZ.
A series of emails have been administered to parents and students of Nardin Academy over the last couple weeks, including the latest one obtained by WBEN that came Thursday from Chairwoman Tish Van Dyke.
The beginning of the email reads:
"To All Members of the Nardin Academy Community:
I'm reaching out to address the current events that have been engulfing Nardin. I want you to know that I've read the many letters and emails you have sent. I've listened to your calls. I've seen and heard what you've shared in the media. You've shared your angst, fears, and hopes for Nardin. I've heard you, and I'm incredibly grateful for your candor and your ongoing commitment to Nardin Academy.
Like so many of you have shared, I too want to move past this difficult time and identify solutions that will heal our community."
The email then went on to say it's time for a "renewal" of the academy, following what the email described as "an orchestrated campaign that is nurturing conflict in our community and our school."
According to the email, in as early as a couple weeks, Nardin Academy will be developing a "Plan for Healing and Growth" which entails several actions to be taken by Nardin Academy, including growth working groups, consisting of board members and members of the community following recommendations coming soon from an assessment taken earlier in the school year to improve the school.
Community forums will also ensue, where Nardin will be talking with stakeholders, starting in May, to discuss the assessment report as well as listen to concerns.
The school will also open an office called "The Office of DHM Legacy and Mission Integration" which according to the email will "create a visible and enduring presence of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary at Nardin and ensure that our mission and values are threaded through the fabric of our entire Academy—from our classrooms to athletic fields, from our chapels to our art studios and science labs—" This is expected to arrive in the Fall of 2023.
Lastly, the email highlights a council to consist solely of parents.
"Over the last 18 months, the Board of Trustees has been working on the development of an organization that will provide our families with a channel to share their time and talent with the school. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, we are establishing a Nardin Parents' Council so that families have a pipeline that will enable them to understand and engage in the school's vision more effectively. Bylaws for this council have already been drawn up, and we will be working with the school's leadership to finalize its structure in the coming months."
