Principal at Green Central school in Mpls. placed on administrative leave

The principal at Richard R. Green Central Park Community School in south Minneapolis has been abruptly placed on administrative leave.

Parents were notified Monday that Lorraine Cruz, who has led the school since 2013, would not be returning to the school. District officials declined to offer more details.

"Due to data privacy laws and out of respect for all parties involved, no additional information will be discussed regarding [Cruz]," chief of schools Michael Thomas said in a letter to parents.

Thomas said there will be more details soon on "the process for selecting a permanent school leader."

Cruz was the school's second principal in two years.

The district removed Catalina Salas in 2013 after strong racial tensions between Latino and black students in the school. At the time, the Minnesota Association of Black School Educators said there were allegations that Salas acted "like Hitler," according to news reports. Latino parents said they and the principal were being discriminated against.

Salas is now an assistant principal at Marcy Open School.

Cruz declined to comment. On the school's website, Cruz writes that the first thing that she encountered when she arrived as a new principal was "a racially divided community."

Mayela De La Rosa, a parent, said she is frustrated that the district isn't giving parents an explanation for why Cruz was removed.

"If it's something serious, why don't they explain it to us?" she said. "We are frustrated because the district continues to disregard the needs of the children and families."

Alejandra Matos • 612-673-4028