HYANNIS — The family of Barnstable High School Principal Patrick Clark released a statement saying that Clark suffered a cardiac event two days after being placed on leave.
The statement said that Barnstable School Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown put Clark on paid administrative leave Sept. 25, “citing concerns with the opening of school.”
“On Sunday, Sept. 27, Pat collapsed during a morning bike ride,” the statement said.
“Thanks to the quick action of bystanders at Dowses Beach, 911 was called and Pat was transported to Cape Cod Hospital.”
In the statement, the family identified the incident as a ‘cardiac event,” noting that the principal was hospitalized for three days “under skilled cardiac care.”
“Pat continued to recover and build strength at home under the supervision of his terrific medical team,” the statement said.
The statement thanked the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills Fire Department and Cape Cod Healthcare staff while also criticizing the school district administration for what the family called an “injustice.”
Clark’s family also was critical of how long it took Mayo-Brown to alert the public of Clark’s suspension.
“The community, including students, parents and staff of BHS did not receive official notice of this (suspension), in the form of a brief email from Dr. Mayo-Brown, until after the opening of school on [Sept. 28],” the statement said.
“The email stated only that Pat was ‘on leave,’ leaving it vague and open to interpretation,” the statement said. “To be clear, Pat, for whom the first day (of) school is a cherished and special event, was placed on leave by Dr. Mayo-Brown.”
The family said that Clark “would never voluntarily abandon our school, its staff, or most importantly, its students.”
The Times received a copy of the statement from a family friend of Patrick Clark. It was not signed, but also appeared on the Facebook page of Clark’s brother, Matthew D. Clark.
The Cape’s largest high school, Barnstable High School got off to a chaotic start this fall as organizational issues plagued the remote learning schedule.
Other Barnstable schools returned to class remotely Sept. 16, but students at the high school didn’t begin to start academic classes until a week later, and some waited a couple of weeks for new teacher hires to start classes.
The morning of Sept. 28, the high school returned to in-person learning on a hybrid schedule, with Barnstable schools Assistant Superintendent Kristin Harmon at the helm.
Mayo-Brown has not elaborated on Clark’s suspension, calling it “an area of personnel I can’t go into.”
Clark’s family also thanked people who supported the principal and said the family is confident “that the Town of Barnstable School Committee will soon begin taking corrective action.”
People will have an opportunity to weigh in on the principal’s suspension during the public comment portion of the School Committee’s meeting Wednesday night. The remote meeting starts at 7 p.m. People can also email committee members with questions and concerns.
For more information on submitting public comments go to: boarddocs.com/ma/barnstable/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BT9KPQ523522
Follow Cynthia McCormick on Twitter: @Cmccormickcct.
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