This petition seeks the removal of Principal Scott Milczewski from Hillcrest High School due to concerns regarding leadership effectiveness, which has contributed to the current state of the school.

The following are key concerns raised by teachers, students, and staff at Hillcrest since the assumption of leadership by Scott Milczewski.

The violence at Hillcrest High School did not start overnight; it began when  Scott Milczewski became principal. He utilized Hillcrest as a stepping stone for his career, solely focusing on numbers. He treated teachers like robots. He did not suspend students or hold them accountable in any way. Although he claimed to implement restorative practices, there were no trained staff or a program in place for restorative circles. Over the years, minor issues escalated into significant problems. Scotty terminated hallway sweeps, exacerbating the discipline problem.

Incidents involving verbal abuse, physical altercations, and a lack of consequences for students have created an environment where teachers and staff at Hillcrest have faced challenges. The escalation of fights culminated in disturbances, hindering the daily educational process.

In an effort to enhance his resume, Scotty networked with politicians and the chancellor, concentrating on superficial changes like altering signage, installing a bumper in front of the building and revamping the gymnasium in dedication to a former teacher. Contrary to appearances, Scotty did not support Hillcrest's Physical Education (P.E.) program; it was one of the first programs he cut, reducing P.E. from five days a week to two. To further embellish his resume, he created the advisory program without a relatable curriculum, resulting in untrained teachers and a high rate of student disengagement. Scotty also initially cut all after-school programs, attributing it to budget constraints, only to reinstate them later to claim credit, thereby diminishing Hillcrest's culture and depriving students of outlets.

Scotty dismantled existing systems at Hillcrest only to reintroduce them later and take credit for their implementation. The reorganization of the guidance department compromised student privacy with their counselors. The appointment of [Redacted], with minimal experience in managing large schools, intensified tensions as consistently initiated OSI cases in response to every student incident disclosed to their guidance counselor. This created an environment of distrust among teachers, students, and the administration.

Regarding grades, teachers were unable to enter a grade of 0 or NS for a student who was a no show. The only grade allowed was a 45. [Redacted] also pressured teachers to change grades and award passing grades to seniors with excessive absences and no completed coursework. A vote of no confidence was administered by the UFT with no change. 

Scotty's latest changes: transitioning to a single session and dismantling the Dean's office, have negatively impacted student success and teacher support systems. The decentralization of administrative responsibility to small learning communities, with individualized cabinet meetings, is perceived as an attempt to deflect accountability from Scott Milczewski. These issues have lead to numerous fights and riots in the building prior to the incident on 11/20/23. 

Collectively, these issues have led to an increase in turnover rates, a Principals Perception Survey score of 53%, and a pervasive lack of trust in leadership. The resulting erosion of school morale underscores the urgent need for a reevaluation of Scott Milczewski leadership at Hillcrest High School. Hillcrest used to be a good place, a nurturing community and safe! The chancellor needs to take a deeper look at how Scotty destroyed Hillcrest.  #savehillcrest #votescottyout