HUDSON -- Calls for healing are gradually replacing accusations after Patricia Brandner's sudden resignation last month as principal of St. Patrick's School.

A parent, Helen Shaw, vigorously opposed some of Brandner's approaches to education, to the point that the second-year administrator last fall called police to report an alleged assault. However, the St. Croix County district attorney decided not to press charges.

An emergency meeting was then held between the staff and clergy at St. Patrick's and a Superior diocese representative.

On Feb. 12, diocesan school superintendent Phyllis Schlagel arrived here to serve as temporary administrator and interview teachers. At a Parish Council meeting that night Schlagel and others called for tolerance and said the dispute should be handled in a more Christian way.

More recently Fr. William McCarthy of the My Father's House retreat center in Connecticut visited to promote healing on this matter; the murder of Dan O'Connell, a popular local funeral director; and other things that have disrupted the community. About 175 people attended, many calling it a great bonding experience that made them smile again. McCarthy prayed individually with people involved in the various recent hardships and with those who asked.

"McCarthy lost his mother just a week ago, but said it was his joy to come here and to be with us," said Sheila Gramaglia, who helped organize the event. "Things should be about God, not about (particular) people. We need to move forward."

In a police report filed Oct. 23, Brandner said Shaw lowered her left shoulder while walking in a hall and hit the principal, knocking her into the wall and causing pain in her neck and spine.

Brandner told police she responded, "That's the fourth time. Don't ever do it again." Brandner said the worst of three previous incidents was when Shaw allegedly stepped on the back of her shoes. "This is a continued pattern of physical and verbal harassment and intimidation by Mrs. Shaw," the principal said.

Shaw denied to police that she intentionally bumped Brandner or that she dropped her shoulder to do so.

Fr. Peter Szleszinski, St. Patrick pastor, said at the Feb. 12 meeting that he at one point authorized and signed a restraining order against Shaw, but Brandner then refused to also sign it. Likewise, Shaw sought a restraining order against Brandner in St. Croix County Circuit Court, but it was thrown out.

Several parents said the dispute dates back to just before last Easter, when Shaw questioned the relevance of holding a Seder meal event at the school. The Seder meal is commonly practiced in Catholic churches as a way to show solidarity with Jewish people over the Passover experience.

Following the Feb. 8 resignation of Brandner, teacher Tim DeJardin was named acting principal. About one week later Bill Feyereisen, a longtime parishioner with a strong background in administration, was named interim principal.

Several parishioners fear that new administrators would not want to come to St. Patrick, which now has its third principal in as many years. Schlagel said it was time for St. Patrick to again do the diocese's periodic 11-step, self-assessment program for schools.

Some parents said at the Parish Council meeting they fear for their children's safety and are considering not sending them to school. There were heated exchanges between Brandner supporters, who said she hadn't gotten the support she needed from the parish administration, and those who called the principal very difficult to work with.

Parishioner Betty Caruso said that many of these things are for the council and administration to sort out, and that parishioners should step back and let them make decisions.

Parishioner James Traeger said some teachers have expressed fear for their safety, and have said they hesitate to discipline some students for fear of repercussions. He criticized how diocese officials handled the most recent incident, when a son of Shaw allegedly read one of three derogatory poems about Brandner aloud in class. Shaw defended the poem at the Parish Council meeting.

"If these rumors don't stop we are going to do whatever it takes to protect our reputations," Tom McCormick said at the meeting. He didn't say what the rumors were, but council members noted that parties on both sides have allegedly been verbally attacked.

Even afterward there were lots of unanswered questions. Several people have told reporters there are other sides to the story they would not reveal on the record because of threatened lawsuits.

Brandner's secretary also said that she would not comment.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002