Families frustrated over Flossmoor Catholic school’s response to racism
Parents of students enrolled at an Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Elementary School in Flossmoor are calling for the school’s administration to take a stronger stance against racism after its first Black principal received hate mail.
Felicia Clotworthy was hired as principal in June 2023, said Lynnnette Wright, whose son attends the school. But six months later, a letter addressed to Clotworthy from an unnamed sender, dated Dec. 31, used a racial slur to address her.
“We know there have been incidents at Infant Jesus of Prague this school year and have been productively working with the parish and school to address them,” said Greg Richmond, superintendent of the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools, in a written statement. “We believe all schools should be free of racism and have been pleased that the pastor, principal, and school community have been working together to make IJP a welcoming environment for all.”
Officials at Infant Jesus Prague Elementary School would not comment, instead referring questions to the archdiocese.
Although Richmond’s statement mentioned and condemned the reports of racism, several parents at the school are calling for administrators at Infant Jesus Prague Elementary School to speak up.
“The majority of parents here are asking for a strong denouncement and support from the archdiocese because we are not receiving it in the parish,” said Wright, who has led community meetings with more than 60 other parents calling for more action from the elementary school.
Erica Andrews and Morgan Sutherland are two other parents who, along with Wright and dozens of others, have discussed how to put more pressure on the school to respond to racism more actively. They all said they are strongly considering not enrolling their kids in the upcoming school year. Tuition is between $6,000 and $7,000 per child depending on if the family is in the parish.
“More than likely we will not be returning next year,” said Andrews, adding she spoke to five families Thursday that “committed to not returning.”
The letter to Clotworthy, provided to the Daily Southtown, uses a racial slur to refer to her and tells her to “beware.” It also refers to an apparent incident with two other people, but Wright was not clear about the specifics of the context.
Wright said there have been other interactions between white and Black community members. In one instance, a white woman “accosted” Wright in the school parking lot and told Wright that Clotworthy was “not wanted in the community and that they would be doing whatever they could” to remove her from her role, according to Wright.
Clotworthy signed a new contract with the school l, but Wright said she recently rescinded her contract.
Clotworthy did not respond to requests for comment.
Flossmoor is more than 63% Black, according to the United States Census Bureau. Wright said the school is 75% Black students and that Clotworthy is the school’s first Black principal. She and other parents are threatening to pull their students from the elementary school if the school does not express more support for Black families.
This is not the first time racial tensions have emerged in Flossmoor. The village’s first Black police chief recently sued the mayor, village and village administrator over his recent dismissal, alleging he was fired because of a “master-slave dynamic.”
hsanders@chicagotribune.com