As the John Dickinson High School community is healing from the shock of a staff member being raped by a football player, they and their principal want one thing to be clear. This is a good high school with a bum rap, and the Rams will get through this.
Principal Byron Murphy, the turnaround leader appointed to head the school in August, has been absolutely amazed at the outpouring of support and the way the staff and students have come together since this incident.
This tragedy will not deter Dickinson from its primary mission, which is to provide a great education to the 800 students that arrive at its door every morning, Murphy said.
Patty Sinkus’ daughter, Jessica Mullen, was Dickinson’s homecoming queen two weekends ago, just days after the incident. As tough as it was, parents tried to ensure students had as good a homecoming as they could have, she said.
“We have a vested interest in this school and we believe in this school,” Sinkus said. “This is a great school.”
But it is frustrating when Dickinson parents open the newspaper and see, “Dickinson kid throws a rock at a window,” said her husband, Larry. In his view, other schools tend to get more of a pass.
“Mr. Murphy cares about the students and faculty. I personally don’t believe he gets the backing that he should,” he said.
Larry Sinkus told Red Clay Consolidated School District officials that he expects them to continue to support Dickinson, not just until this incident blows over.
Charles McGonigal of Heritage Park said his two sons Kevin and Michael graduated from Dickinson and his daughter Jill attended Dickinson as well before graduating from Newark. McGonigal manned the concession stand for four years.
“All these teachers are very dedicated, honest-to-good, good teachers,” McGonigal said. “And 99 percent of the kids here are good kids. It’s a shame.”
At the Oct. 1 meeting held for parents and staff members, April Rash said her family has been at Dickinson via the choice program for nine years. He daughter Andrea is a sophomore this year.
“How are you going to help us prevent Dickinson, which is a wonderful school, from being a dumping ground?” Rash said. “I’m not saying it’s a dumping ground. That is the public perception, that is a horrible place to be. It’s not just up to Mr. Murphy and his staff to change that. We need district support.”
“Dickinson is not a dumping ground,” Andrzejewski, said. “Changing perception is something Mr. Murphy and staff are working very hard to change. That’s why Byron is here.”
Joe Greigg choices his daughter into Dickinson from the Alexis I. duPont feeder pattern. While Murphy is the fourth principal in 24 months, Greigg likes what he’s seen so far.
“We’re very comfortable with the administration of the school and the district’s reaction to this.”
