Biddeford Catholic school principal resigns

BIDDEFORD – The St. James School principal who became a target of criticism for removing a disabled boy from the parochial school has resigned.

Marie Klement sent a letter home with students this week saying health reasons are forcing her to step down after several years as principal, effective Jan. 31.

Klement’s decision to remove Matthew Denger from the school gave rise to a case that eventually reached the Maine Human Rights Commission. In October, the panel ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine discriminated against the boy based on his physical disability.

Matthew, 9, has muscular dystrophy. He was a first-grader last year when he was asked to transfer to a public school because St. James lacked the wheelchair lift he needed to remain there.

A community group raised nearly $33,000 for the lift, but the church wouldn’t allow it to be installed. The money was returned to the donors.

In ruling against the diocese, members of the Human Rights Commission said they were particularly affected by Klement’s comment in a newspaper that installing a wheelchair lift “would just open the floodgates” and attract other disabled students to St. James.

The diocese accepted the commission’s ruling and agreed to install a wheelchair lift in an attempt to settle the case. Talks were scheduled to take place between both sides this winter.

Even with Klement’s departure, Matthew’s parents say he probably would stay at Biddeford’s John F. Kennedy School. His father said he has attended three schools in three years, and another change would be difficult for him.

Marc Mutty, a spokesman with the diocese, said there was no connection between the Denger case and Klement’s resignation.

“She has resigned, and the nature of her resignation is totally unrelated to any developments in the Denger case,” he said.