A petition calling for the removal of the principal at Walt Disney Magnet School on Chicago’s North Side has gained attention online.
Walt Disney Magnet School is an eleven-acre site located on Chicago’s lakefront. It opened in the 1970’s and was the first magnet school in the City of Chicago. There are approximately 1600 students in Pre-K through 8th grades.
The petition, posted online by Kathy Haggard, has gathered more than 1,100 signatures. In the petition, the principal, Dr. Kathleen Hagstrom, is accused of harassment, making inappropriate and racist comments and retaliating against people who’ve voiced concerns about her conduct.
According to the online pentition, Dr. Hagstrom has repeatedly called the police on African American and Latino students, which the writer described as a “scare tactic to force families to transfer from Disney.”
The mother of a student, who chose not to identify herself, said her fifth grade son has been severely bullied ever since he started at the school.
“It’s the person getting bullied. It’s their fault. That’s kind of the message I got,” the mother said.
Police reports filed on behalf of the boy outline numerous incidents involving doctor visits after every attack. The mother said Dr. Hagstrom suggested in an email that her son transfer schools.
“Very vulgar. Very intimidating,” the boy’s mother added. “Cut you off. You don’t get to say what you need to say. Not an open, fair conversation. This is the way it’s gonna go, and that’s it.”
The petition also included dozens of comments from alumni, parents and graduates who outlined their negative experiences with Dr. Hagstrom. A handful of commenters came to the principal’s defense.