Russian school principal is fired after refusing to single out parents with unpaid utility bills

A school outside Chelyabinsk has fired its director after she refused to sit down with students’ parents and lecture them about their unpaid utility bills. According to local journalists, the town’s education officials sent school director Natalia Matveyeva an email with a spreadsheet listing individuals with outstanding utility debts, ordering her to find the names of any students’ parents and summon them for “explanatory meetings.” She said no, arguing that such behavior would violate her relationship with parents.

Administrators say they aren’t required to explain their decision to fire Matveyeva, but education officials told reporters that they’ve received complaints about her for years. Matveyeva has already appealed to the district attorney’s office, and says she plans to challenge her dismissal in court, if necessary.