It’s never a good day when you’re called to the principal’s office — especially if you’re a teacher.

Last week, North Miami science teacher Laurie Futterman was called to her boss’ office at David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center.

The reason: The city’s mayor had called Principal Bernard Osborn after Futterman and her two children spoke against a controversial garbage-pickup contract at a recent North Miami City Council meeting.

Futterman, who has one of Mayor Andre Pierre’s children in her class, said she was flabbergasted.

“Who is he to call my place of employment?” said Futterman, who lives in North Miami. “I am offended as his son’s educator and as a citizen.”

The Jan. 24 meeting drew a crowd that packed the council chambers, with a spillover audience watching from the lobby as the council heard public comment about a plan to privatize the city’s garbage services. The mayor and his supporters have said the plan would reduce garbage and trash collection fees; critics have said it would lead to uneven service and higher fees in the long run. The council passed the measure on second reading by a 3-2 vote, with council members Michael Blynn and Scott Galvin dissenting.

The proposal has been the subject of scandal and controversy for months. The mayor’s nephew and reelection campaign manager, Ricardo Brutus, was arrested in March for allegedly accepting $4,000 from a local businessman to ensure the ordinance was delayed until after the May election. Brutus was caught on tape describing his influence in City Hall, although he has denied wrongdoing, and Pierre has sought to distance himself from the case.

At a meeting last month, the mayor bristled when Blynn brought up his nephew’s arrest, and angrily referred to Blynn’s daughters as “prostitutes” — a comment for which he later apologized.

Pierre said he called the principal out of concern about comments made by Futterman’s children, who he said were misinformed about the project. He said he did not realize their mother was a teacher at the school.

“I wasn’t concerned about the teacher; I was concerned about what the children were saying,” said Pierre. “I have a moral and legal obligation to let the principal know.”

Futterman’s children, like their mom, had questioned the council about whether the plan would include recycling. Futterman said she asked her children if they wanted to speak at the meeting because of the role recylcing plays in their lives.

“We live recycling,” Futterman said. “I said ‘I’m going do you, have anything to say?’”

No one on the council addressed the recycling question during the public comment period because the council takes questions after all comments have been made. Futterman and her twin seventh-graders, Max and Toni Correa, had already left at about 9:30 p.m. and were no longer at the meeting by the time the council acknowledged recycling would be included.

“I thought they would stay till the end,” said Pierre, who said he wanted to work with the principal to schedule a workshop on the new plan so students could be educated on the matter. “I understand it was a school night, but I am not going to stop a public meeting.”