But the problems are not over for Community Christian School, which still faces possible eviction by its landlord.
By CURTIS KRUEGER and KELLEY BENHAM
Published August 12, 2003
LARGO - The beloved but controversial principal of Community Christian School resigned Monday, three weeks after news reports detailed his trips to Disney World with schoolgirls.
"I cannot express how deeply this cuts to my heart," Dick Baker said in a resignation letter sent home with students Monday. "After the unfounded accusations against me, I felt my remaining at CCS puts the school in an awkward position."
Parents, teachers and students were as divided over the resignation as they have been throughout the controversy.
"Some kids were clearly upset, and some kids were clearly relieved," said teacher Angel Lee.
Parents and teachers said they were told the new administrator would be the Rev. Kent Austin, headmaster at Five Oaks Christian Academy in Pinellas Park.
School spokesman Joe Riccardi would not confirm the selection, but said the new administrator is from the area, has "impeccable credentials" and will start Tuesday.
Baker's resignation ends one controversy, but several others remain. The school still faces possible eviction by its landlord, the Westside Church of the Nazarene. The school also is trying to regain its accreditation, which was stripped this week.
Further, some parents still are demanding the election of a new school board and access to financial records. They also want an explanation of why the school board never told them of a police investigation into Baker's Disney trips. The investigation found no crime.
Ben Baucom, a pastor with three sons who have attended the school, said he's not done asking questions. He wants to learn if any school money was spent on the Disney trips, and why the board was not more forthcoming to parents.
"We want to know the truth and the truth will come out," he said.
The controversy has led some parents to remove their children from the school, Riccardi acknowledged, leaving enrollment just under 200. Last year's enrollment was 245.
Riccardi said the board did not ask Baker to resign.
But board members grew frustrated that Baker, on his lawyer's advice, would not respond to their questions, Riccardi said.
"They support the man and still trust in the man," Riccardi said.
Parents who support Baker were tearful and outraged Monday night.
"He wasn't just there as a principal. He was there as a friend, there as a counselor. He was just like a family member," said Mary Monti, whose daughter burst into tears when she saw the resignation letter. "She's 13 years old and she feels like she lost one of her best friends."
Some parents blame the church and stories by the St. Petersburg Times for fueling controversy over the trips, which they say were misunderstood.
"Dr. Baker has poured 12 years of his heart and soul into our school and children," said JoAnne Iovannisci, whose daughter has been at the school as long as Baker. "It took a few jealous people and the St. Pete Times just a few weeks to destroy this hard work."
Baker always has loved Disney, said Riccardi, who was on the school board that hired him. Baker wore a Disney watch to his job interview, and he drew parallels between the Magic Kingdom and heaven, saying as wonderful as Disney is, God's kingdom must be even more magical.
"If Dr. Baker is guilty of anything, he's guilty of living in the '60s and '70s when you could hug a child" without creating suspicion, Riccardi said.
The school board has launched a wide-ranging review of its own policies and procedures to assess its handling of the matter, Riccardi said.
"The board is fully aware that they are human and they may have made errors of judgment," he said.
The turmoil began quietly in May when the Largo Police Department began investigating Baker, interviewing him and students at the school.
Police concluded he had committed no crimes. But the report quoted a number girls saying Baker took them to Disney World as many as 81 times over the years, held bathing-suit changing contests and took pictures of them in swimsuits, Tinkerbell costumes and matching dresses.
Sometimes there were no other chaperones and some girls said they had shared a room with Baker, but not a bed.
The girls, most of whom were middle-school age, were collectively known as "princesses" and given Disney names such as Cinderella, Ariel and Belle.
Supporters said that, too, was misunderstood. Baker called all the girls princesses and the boys princes, said teacher Linda Jordan, because he said they were all part of God's royal family.
"I've never worked for a more fair, honest, high-integrity individual," she said.
After a St. Petersburg Times story last month, several parents read the police report and said they were troubled by Baker's judgment and the school's lack of oversight, regardless of whether any crime occurred.
"They knew about this all along, they chose not to say anything, which I believe is unacceptable," said Tamara Mattingly, whose fifth grade daughter attends CCS.
It was not clear whether Baker's resignation will prevent the Westside Church of the Nazarene from evicting the school before its lease expires in May.
"We'll be meeting with the (church) board to evaluate the impact of today's events on future action," said church attorney Jay Verona.
The church gave the school eviction papers last week, demanding it fire Baker and regain the accreditation it lost amid the recent controversy.
Baker's resignation has no effect on the board's decision last week to fire two teachers who had written letters asking for Baker's resignation. The board also fired an administrator "without cause." Since then, four other employees have resigned.
Riccardi said the school will live on, even if it has to move. But it won't merge with the church, as some have suggested, he said.
Baker declined to comment Monday night.
In his letter, Baker called his resignation "the hardest decision of my life."
He asked the school's parents and staff to "pray for me. I have a new life to figure out."
Baker's letter to parents
f,10,hr0 Excerpts of a letter from Dick Baker that went home with Community Christian School parents:
"The reasons for my stepping down are: 1) I have prayed about this every day - many times - and I feel this is what the Lord would have me do. 2) After the unfounded accusations against me, I felt my remaining at CCS puts the school in an awkward position. Your students are at CCS to learn in a loving, Christian environment. Their welfare is the most important aspect of all. You will agree with me that CCS has the best kids in the world. What an honor to invest in their lives.
"So, what should YOU do now? 1) Stay at CCS. Do not leave. Support the School Board, Mrs. Ladd and the administration. They are working very hard to solve daily and long term problems - but it takes time. Please give them breathing space. 2) Pray for YOUR school daily. Prayer is what will bring about godly change and victory. 3) Pray for me. I have a new life to figure out."
