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Minggu, 30 April 2023

'We don't feel safe': Brutal beatdown by Westfield HS students sends assistant principal to hospital, family says - KPRC Click2Houston

SPRING, Texas – Students at Westfield High School are accused of forming a mob and beating an assistant principal up so badly, she had to be rushed to the hospital. That’s according to the administrator’s family, who says she was left unable to talk after the attack.

Other staff members are now coming forward, saying that this isn’t the first time staff members have been injured by students on the job, and they fear it won’t be the last.

“It broke my heart. It makes me want to cry,” said a Westfield Highschool teacher who asked not to be identified out of fear of retaliation from the district.

Still, she says she felt compelled to speak out after the assistant principal suffered a brutal beatdown.

“Three or four other kids jumped in on her. Just pummelled her to the ground, and they started kicking her and pulling her hair,” she said. “She loves those kids. She is the nicest person, and she’s the best administrator that we have at Westfield Highschool.”

Spring ISD released the following statement about the incident:

“This morning, an altercation occurred between multiple students at Westfield High School 9th Grade Center, resulting in a precautionary hold. School administrators and police officers were able to intervene and stop the fighting quickly, and identify students involved for discipline. As a result of the incident, a staff member was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. All students involved in the altercation will be subject to the full extent of disciplinary action available. We take these issues very seriously as the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. There will be no tolerance for any altercations or disruptions to learning.”

The teacher who spoke with KPRC 2 says that statement simply isn’t true.

“When you call for help to the front office, nobody ever shows up,” she said, adding the entire campus only has two officers. “We don’t feel safe. Faculty don’t feel safe… if the parents knew how unsafe the inside of the school is, they would be upset.”

The assistant principal’s father says he’s not sure how long she’s going to remain in the hospital. She suffers from excruciating head pain that will need to be monitored. She also will need a CT scan.

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Principal forced to resign over Michelangelo's David visits sculpture - BBC

Hope Carrasquilla (right) arrived in town on Friday and went almost directly to the museumAccademia Gallery

A US principal forced to resign after parents complained about an art lesson showing one of the world's most famous sculptures has visited the masterpiece.

Hope Carrasquilla and her family went to see Michelangelo's David on Friday at Florence's Accademia Galleria.

They came at the invitation of museum director Cecilie Hollberg, who said that she was grateful for the visit.

Ms Carrasquilla said she was impressed by the gallery, saying: "I think it's beautiful. It looks like a church."

"The thing that impresses me the most is that this whole gallery was built for him," she said in a statement provided to BBC News on Friday.

"There is nothing wrong with the human body in and of itself," she continued.

"Michelangelo would have done him wrong to sculpt him in any other way. I think it's wonderful."

The educator was asked to resign from the Tallahassee Classical School in Florida last month after less than a year on the job.

Local media reported that Ms Carrasquilla did not know the reason she was asked to leave, but believed it was related to the complaints over the lesson.

The 5.17m (17ft) statue depicts an entirely naked David, the Biblical figure who kills the giant Goliath.

The art lesson, given to 11 and 12-year-old students, included an image of David and referenced Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" painting and Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" - both of which also contain nudity.

One parent complained the Renaissance era material was pornographic and others said they wanted to know about the lesson before it was taught.

The incident caused an international outcry and confusion in the classical art community.

Director Cecilie Hollberg (left) issued the invitation to visit the artwork
Accademia Gallery

Florida's Department of Education was moved to issue a statement, declaring that the David statue has "artistic and historical value".

Ms Hollberg, the museum director, said that she was "delighted to personally introduce" the educator to the sculpture.

"It is a masterpiece representing a religious symbol of purity and innocence, the triumph of good over evil."

She added that more than half of the museum's visitors come from the US.

The David was completed by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504. It was instantly hailed as a masterpiece, with Renaissance artist Giorgio Vasari saying the David "surpassed" any statue that had ever existed before.

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Jumat, 28 April 2023

Southwestern Ontario principal charged in luring case loses teaching licence - The London Free Press

A Southwestern Ontario principal swept up in a London police-led child pornography and luring investigation has lost his licence to teach in Ontario, according to the province’s regulatory body.

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A Southwestern Ontario principal swept up in a London police-led child pornography and luring investigation has lost his licence to teach in Ontario, according to the province’s regulatory body.

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Phillip Sallewsky, the former principal at Northlake Woods elementary school in Kitchener, was charged last month with more than a dozen offences following a joint investigation by police in London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto.

Sallewsky’s licence with the Ontario College of Teachers is listed as “cancelled-resigned” effective this week, according to the professional regulator’s website.

“This indicates that the teacher has informed the college in writing that they wish to cease being a member of the college. The certificate is cancelled by the registrar. This person is no longer a member of the college and may not teach in publicly funded schools,” the regulator said.

The college’s update included a note listing the charges laid against Sallewsky, whose certificate to teach was first issued in 1992.

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The Ontario College of Teachers didn’t immediately respond Thursday to request for comment.

Police launched an investigation in February and found a suspect was communicating online with what he thought were teenage girls, sending sexually explicit messages and images, police said.

The suspect, using the names Sam and Chuck on Snapchat, a photo- and video-sharing mobile app, arranged to meet one girl in Burlington, where he was arrested on March 30, police said.

Sallewsky, 55, was released on an undertaking – a document that an accused signs agreeing to abide by certain conditions – instead of being held for a bail hearing.

He is prohibited from engaging in any activities involving anyone younger than 16 or going to schools, playgrounds, public pools, community centres or any place children could be present, according to court documents.

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Following Sallewsky’s arrest, the Waterloo Regional District school board said he was assigned “to home immediately” and barred from accessing board communication tools or attending school properties.

The website for Northlake Woods elementary school no longer lists Sallewsky as the principal.

A school board spokesperson declined comment when asked about Sallewsky’s employment status, citing the ongoing criminal case before the courts.

“At this moment, we don’t have further comments other than our initial statement,” spokesperson EstefanĂ­a Brandenstein said in an email. 

Sallewsky is charged with five counts of luring a person younger than 16, two counts of invitation to sexual touching a person younger than 16, sexual assault, sexual interference, luring a person younger than 16 through telecommunication, three counts of transmitting sexually explicit material to a person younger than 16, luring a person younger than 18 by telecommunication, and single counts of possessing and distributing child porn.

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in a London court on May 11.

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

Twitter: @DaleatLFPress

  1. (File photo)

    Former youth worker convicted of sex charge faces child porn count

  2. B. Davison secondary school on Trafalgar Street in London. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press)

    Trustees pause $10M plan for London vocational school building's future

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    Abrupt removal of Rolling Meadows junior high principal upsets students, parents - Daily Herald

    Parents and students are upset that a longtime principal in Palatine Township Elementary School District 15 was abruptly removed from her duties last week and placed in another position in the district.

    Kerry Wilson, principal at Plum Grove Junior High School in Rolling Meadows for 15 years, wanted to remain at the school but was transferred against her wishes, said her attorney, Steven Glink.

    "She didn't ask to be transferred. She wanted to be the principal at Plum Grove," Glink said Wednesday.

    Glink said the district's move follows accusations against Wilson he labeled "false and/or easily explainable." They include complaints about her handling of special education matters and an incident when a student was removed from school by police.

    "We feel like they are building a case against her. They are targeting her," he added.

    An online petition has been launched seeking the reinstatement of Wilson for the remainder of the school year. And in a protest of the move, some students took off school Wednesday as a mental health day, calling it Wilson Wellness Wednesday, said Michelle Rushing, president of the school's Parent Teacher Student Association.

    "Kerry is probably the most well-loved employee in the district by families," Rushing said.

    District officials confirmed that 131 Plum Grove students were absent Wednesday, 66 of them reporting they were out for mental health reasons. Typically, about 60 of the approximately 900 students at Plum Grove are out on a given day, officials said.

    Wilson was moved to a new job in the district office as assistant director of human resources, officials said. Her last day as principal was Friday, when the district informed parents about the change.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    "We are excited for her to join our central office administrative team and dive into her new role -- we have so much work to do to prepare ourselves for next year as well as the staffing shifts necessary to support the Moving 15 Forward initiative," Superintendent Laurie Heinz and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Lisa Nuss wrote in the message to Plum Grove families.

    Families were told that Meg Schnoor, assistant superintendent for educational services, would serve as interim principal alongside Assistant Principal Scott Scafidi.

    The move upset many Plum Grove families and students, who say the change will disrupt the school as it gears up for year-end events and graduation.

    "There were 16 kids that I know of that went in the interim principal's office (Monday) crying," Rushing said, adding that Wilson was not allowed to address students before her departure.

    "The students are confused and, quite honestly, are really upset that they don't have the opportunity to finish the school year with her," said Katy Pietrini, a Plum Grove parent whose two children took part in Wilson Wellness Wednesday.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Pietrini said she is disappointed with the district's handling of Wilson's departure and communication with parents "lacked humanity and sincerity."

    In response to the reaction, Heinz sent another message Tuesday.

    "We understand that change of any kind is difficult, but even more so when it includes an administrator who has been a valued part of a community for a significant length of time the way Dr. Wilson has," the statement reads. "That said, please realize the board of education, members of my cabinet, and I have taken great time as well as care, even if you can't see it and despite misinformation circulating, in making the decision to begin Dr. Wilson's transition to human resources a few months sooner than originally anticipated."

    Glink said Wilson has not yet started in her new position, opting instead to use sick days while contemplating a Family Medical Leave Act leave of absence.

    Wilson has not decided whether she will pursue a course of legal action, he said.

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    Kamis, 27 April 2023

    Former Tecumseh principal remembered as 'generous' and passionate advocate | CTV News - CTV News Windsor

    Former students and a teacher at L'Essor Secondary School in Tecumseh are remembering the school's very first principal as a "generous" man who went above and beyond for his students — and the greater Francophone community of Windsor-Essex.

    Police said a collision this week in Tecumseh claimed the lives of two senior citizens: a 91-year-old man and an 85-year-old woman.

    According to St-JĂ©rĂŽme Parish in Windsor, the elder victim was Paul Chauvin. He was the principal at L'Essor Secondary School when it first opened in 1979.

    Chauvin's sister-in-law HĂ©lĂšne was the second person killed in the crash, the parish added.

    Former L'Essor student Madalina Lazak said Chauvin helped integrate her family into this country's education system when they first arrived in Canada in 1985.

    "I remember my parents being invited at barbecues at Paul Chauvin's house during that first year when we didn't really know anybody here," said Lazak.

    "He was very generous. We only had great memories with him."

    In fact, Chauvin gave Lazak's father, 85-year-old Corneliu, a job as a teacher at L'Essor, taking him under his wing just three weeks after arriving in Canada.

    "I was very shocked when I heard the news about him because Paul wasn't just my principal. He was my friend, too. A great person," said Corneliu.

    "For the first week, he drove me from school to my house. After that, he made arrangements with the secretary to bring me everyday to school."

    According to Corneliu Lazak, Chauvin would always stress the importance of "being confident" as a member of the school's faculty. His daughter, Madalina, added Chauvin always went "above and beyond" for his students.

    Another former L'Essor student, Paul Lachance, echoed that sentiment. He remembers the school's first year when there were "about 135 students" enrolled, adding he demonstrated a passion for leadership that was unmatched.

    "Just the love of his school and the love he had for his the students was just incredible," said Lachance.

    Those leadership skills fared well in Chauvin's other endeavours and his advocacy for Francophone matters.

    According to parish officials, Chauvin was a principal at two different French language schools in the 1960s.

    It was in the late 70s when Chauvin moved to southwestern Ontario to help open L'Essor Secondary in Tecumseh.

    After his retirement, he became involved in the Francophone community and was president of the local chapter of the Francophone Canadian Association of Ontario.

    He also helped organize a year-long celebration for the 300th anniversary of the first French settlers in southwestern Ontario in 2001.

    Lachance credits Chauvin with keeping French language and culture alive throughout his life.

    "The French community died a little bit, with his passing," he said. "He was a great man and he'll be greatly missed."

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    Southwestern Ontario principal charged in luring case loses teaching licence - The London Free Press

    A Southwestern Ontario principal swept up in a London police-led child pornography and luring investigation has lost his licence to teach in Ontario, according to the province’s regulatory body.

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    A Southwestern Ontario principal swept up in a London police-led child pornography and luring investigation has lost his licence to teach in Ontario, according to the province’s regulatory body.

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    Phillip Sallewsky, the former principal at Northlake Woods elementary school in Kitchener, was charged last month with more than a dozen offences following a joint investigation by police in London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto.

    Sallewsky’s licence with the Ontario College of Teachers is listed as “cancelled-resigned” effective this week, according to the professional regulator’s website.

    “This indicates that the teacher has informed the college in writing that they wish to cease being a member of the college. The certificate is cancelled by the registrar. This person is no longer a member of the college and may not teach in publicly funded schools,” the regulator said.

    The college’s update included a note listing the charges laid against Sallewsky, whose certificate to teach was first issued in 1992.

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    The Ontario College of Teachers didn’t immediately respond Thursday to request for comment.

    Police launched an investigation in February and found a suspect was communicating online with what he thought were teenage girls, sending sexually explicit messages and images, police said.

    The suspect, using the names Sam and Chuck on Snapchat, a photo- and video-sharing mobile app, arranged to meet one girl in Burlington, where he was arrested on March 30, police said.

    Sallewsky, 55, was released on an undertaking – a document that an accused signs agreeing to abide by certain conditions – instead of being held for a bail hearing.

    He is prohibited from engaging in any activities involving anyone younger than 16 or going to schools, playgrounds, public pools, community centres or any place children could be present, according to court documents.

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    Following Sallewsky’s arrest, the Waterloo Regional District school board said he was assigned “to home immediately” and barred from accessing board communication tools or attending school properties.

    The website for Northlake Woods elementary school no longer lists Sallewsky as the principal.

    A school board spokesperson declined comment when asked about Sallewsky’s employment status, citiing the ongoing criminal case before the courts.

    “At this moment, we don’t have further comments other than our initial statement,” spokesperson EstefanĂ­a Brandenstein said in an email. 

    Sallewsky is charged with five counts of luring a person younger than 16, two counts of invitation to sexual touching a person younger than 16, sexual assault, sexual interference, luring a person younger than 16 through telecommunication, three counts of transmitting sexually explicit material to a person younger than 16, luring a person younger than 18 by telecommunication, and single counts of possessing and distributing child porn.

    He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in a London court on May 11.

    dcarruthers@postmedia.com

    Twitter: @DaleatLFPress

    1. (File photo)

      Former youth worker convicted of sex charge faces child porn count

    2. B. Davison secondary school on Trafalgar Street in London. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press)

      Trustees pause $10M plan for London vocational school building's future

    Comments

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

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      Senin, 24 April 2023

      Fresno vice principal under investigation for calling Black teens "Section 8 people" and "ghetto girls" - Yahoo Entertainment

      school building
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      A Northern California school administrator has come under fire after a viral video of him allegedly racially profiling Black teenagers was shared across social media platforms. Fred Veenendaal is a vice principal at Sunnyside High School in Fresno, California. He has been with the Fresno Unified School District for just under 15 years; however, his future now hangs in the balance.

      A 27-second TikTok video provides little context for what led Veenendaal and a group of female teenagers to be at odds. However, the short clip does clearly reveal the vice principal’s thoughts about the Black students. While inside a housing subdivision, a teen recording the encounter is heard saying, “We’re minors,” as she asks why they are being harassed. At one point, he quips, “I’m a board of director here.”  Throughout the video, Veenendaal is shown on the phone, presumably with the police, before he says, “Officer, you got three girls here. Three Section 8 people. Ghetto girls.”

      On Friday (April 21), the San Francisco Gate received a statement from the Fresno Unified School District addressing the ongoing investigation into Veenendaal’s actions. “We are aware of the video circulating, and the District started an investigation into the matter early Monday. The labels used in the video do not align with the high standards we have for our Fresno Unified leaders and staff,” read the statement. “Because this is a personnel matter, we will not be able to disclose any resulting information from the investigation. We want to assure our families that having respectful, inclusive, and loving adults serving in our school is of the utmost importance to Sunnyside and our district as a whole.” Veenendaal, who earns a six-figure salary, was placed on leave on Monday (April 17).

      According to the publication, the latest incident comes on the heels of the one-year anniversary of a student walkout. Last May, hundreds of Bullard High, Edison, Sunnyside, Fresno High, and McLane High School teens staged a protest after violent and racist photos circulated. One of the images was of a white student wearing a white shirt resembling a Ku Klux Klan hood.

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      After Supreme Court’s Contempt Warning, Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal Transfers Cases From... - Live Law - Indian Legal News

      The Supreme Court on Monday was informed by the principal bench of the National Green Tribunal that all suo motu cases arising from the western zone, which they had continued hearing despite specific instructions to the contrary, were transferred. This development comes less than two weeks after the principal bench was warned that contempt proceedings would be initiated against it for its defiance of the top court’s order. The apex court bench pronounced:

      “In view of the affidavit filed by the Registrar of the National Green Tribunal, the grievance of the applicant no longer survives. Therefore, the application is therefore disposed of.”

      A bench of Justices Gavai and Aravind Kumar was hearing an application filed by the National Green Tribunal Bar Association (Western Zone) alleging that the top court’s October 2022 order has been violated by the principal bench of the tribunal.

      The intervention application was ‘closed’ after senior advocate Arvind P Datar, appearing on behalf of the NGT before the top court, told the bench, “We have filed an affidavit. All the cases have been transferred to the western bench, even the old matters. This IA may now be closed since nothing survives.” On behalf of the applicant bar association, Advocate Ninad Laud agreed with the senior counsel’s suggestion. He said, “This court may record the [relevant portion] and dispose of the application.”

      Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for an environmental action group, Goa Foundation, however, raised concerns over the 'vagueness' of the transfers that the principal bench referred to, in the affidavit filed by the registrar of the tribunal. “There is a lack of clarity in this paragraph. They have said that the cases have been transferred, but they have not mentioned to which bench.”

      “Ms Jaising, there will not be any issues. No need to worry,” said Justice Gavai, before adding, “Some observations made by us on the last date were communicated by Mr Datar. There won’t be any problems.” Justice Gavai also remarked, “We do not mean any disrespect, but there must be certain judicial discipline.”

      It must be noted that while this application was disposed of, the main petition was kept pending for deliberation, to settle the law after two ‘conflicting’ judgements were given on certain rules made under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The top court will hear the main matter in August, 2023.

      Background

      This application was moved in a petition filed by the National Green Tribunal challenging an order of the Bombay High Court, quashing administrative notices by the Registrar-General of the NGT transferring cases from the western zone bench at Pune to special benches at the principal seat in the national capital.

      Besides quashing the impugned notices as ‘illegal’, a full bench of the Bombay High Court also held that the constitution of the special bench in New Delhi was ‘illegal’, and that “only the members of the western zone could hear matters pertaining to the western zonal bench, including matters arising from Goa and Maharashtra”. Datar told the apex court that the order against which they had preferred an appeal would have pan-India ramifications since the notices had been quashed in their entirety. “This would mean that transfer of cases from other zonal benches to Delhi were also going to be affected, and not just transfers from the western zone.” While issuing notice on the tribunal’s special leave petition, the Supreme Court also stayed the operative portion of the decision of the high court’s full bench, therefore holding in abeyance its order to quash and set aside all impugned notices issued by the registrar general of the tribunal.

      Further, at the end of the admission hearing in October, the bench led by Justice Gavai categorically stated that since two members – one judicial, and one expert member – were available at the western zone bench, all matters arising out of the region, including from the states of Goa and Maharashtra, would have to be dealt with by the bench at Pune.

      However, the National Green Tribunal Bar Association (Western Zone) alleged non-compliance by the principal bench of the tribunal with the top court’s October 2022 order, by filing the application that was disposed of today. Earlier this month, a bench headed by Justice Gavai expressed its disapproval over the principal bench of the tribunal continuing to hear the suo motu cases, despite its strictures. The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal should know its limitations, said the Supreme Court on Monday. Justice Gavai categorically reiterated that the jurisdiction of the principal bench was limited only to the northern zone. “We will not hesitate to issue a contempt notice,” he sternly told the senior counsel appearing on behalf of the National Green Tribunal.

      Case Title

      National Green Tribunal & Anr. v. Goa Foundation & Ors. | Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 17931 of 2022

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      After Supreme Court’s Contempt Warning, Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal Transfers Cases From... - Live Law - Indian Legal News
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      After Supreme Court’s Contempt Warning, Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal Transfers Cases From... - Live Law - Indian Legal News

      The Supreme Court on Monday was informed by the principal bench of the National Green Tribunal that all suo motu cases arising from the western zone, which they had continued hearing despite specific instructions to the contrary, were transferred. This development comes less than two weeks after the principal bench was warned that contempt proceedings would be initiated against it for its defiance of the top court’s order. The apex court bench pronounced:

      “In view of the affidavit filed by the Registrar of the National Green Tribunal, the grievance of the applicant no longer survives. Therefore, the application is therefore disposed of.”

      A bench of Justices Gavai and Aravind Kumar was hearing an application filed by the National Green Tribunal Bar Association (Western Zone) alleging that the top court’s October 2022 order has been violated by the principal bench of the tribunal.

      The intervention application was ‘closed’ after senior advocate Arvind P Datar, appearing on behalf of the NGT before the top court, told the bench, “We have filed an affidavit. All the cases have been transferred to the western bench, even the old matters. This IA may now be closed since nothing survives.” On behalf of the applicant bar association, Advocate Ninad Laud agreed with the senior counsel’s suggestion. He said, “This court may record the [relevant portion] and dispose of the application.”

      Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for an environmental action group, Goa Foundation, however, raised concerns over the 'vagueness' of the transfers that the principal bench referred to, in the affidavit filed by the registrar of the tribunal. “There is a lack of clarity in this paragraph. They have said that the cases have been transferred, but they have not mentioned to which bench.”

      “Ms Jaising, there will not be any issues. No need to worry,” said Justice Gavai, before adding, “Some observations made by us on the last date were communicated by Mr Datar. There won’t be any problems.” Justice Gavai also remarked, “We do not mean any disrespect, but there must be certain judicial discipline.”

      It must be noted that while this application was disposed of, the main petition was kept pending for deliberation, to settle the law after two ‘conflicting’ judgements were given on certain rules made under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The top court will hear the main matter in August, 2023.

      Background

      This application was moved in a petition filed by the National Green Tribunal challenging an order of the Bombay High Court, quashing administrative notices by the Registrar-General of the NGT transferring cases from the western zone bench at Pune to special benches at the principal seat in the national capital.

      Besides quashing the impugned notices as ‘illegal’, a full bench of the Bombay High Court also held that the constitution of the special bench in New Delhi was ‘illegal’, and that “only the members of the western zone could hear matters pertaining to the western zonal bench, including matters arising from Goa and Maharashtra”. Datar told the apex court that the order against which they had preferred an appeal would have pan-India ramifications since the notices had been quashed in their entirety. “This would mean that transfer of cases from other zonal benches to Delhi were also going to be affected, and not just transfers from the western zone.” While issuing notice on the tribunal’s special leave petition, the Supreme Court also stayed the operative portion of the decision of the high court’s full bench, therefore holding in abeyance its order to quash and set aside all impugned notices issued by the registrar general of the tribunal.

      Further, at the end of the admission hearing in October, the bench led by Justice Gavai categorically stated that since two members – one judicial, and one expert member – were available at the western zone bench, all matters arising out of the region, including from the states of Goa and Maharashtra, would have to be dealt with by the bench at Pune.

      However, the National Green Tribunal Bar Association (Western Zone) alleged non-compliance by the principal bench of the tribunal with the top court’s October 2022 order, by filing the application that was disposed of today. Earlier this month, a bench headed by Justice Gavai expressed its disapproval over the principal bench of the tribunal continuing to hear the suo motu cases, despite its strictures. The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal should know its limitations, said the Supreme Court on Monday. Justice Gavai categorically reiterated that the jurisdiction of the principal bench was limited only to the northern zone. “We will not hesitate to issue a contempt notice,” he sternly told the senior counsel appearing on behalf of the National Green Tribunal.

      Case Title

      National Green Tribunal & Anr. v. Goa Foundation & Ors. | Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 17931 of 2022

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      Orange High School Principal Katie Phillips resigns for ‘personal reasons’ - cleveland.com

      PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- Orange High School Principal Katie Phillips has submitted her resignation after less than a year in that position, effective at the end of the work day Friday (April 21).

      Superintendent Lynn Campbell informed district families and staff in an email Thursday (April 20). Phillips had indicated in her letter of resignation that she was stepping down for “personal reasons.”

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      Minggu, 23 April 2023

      Densil Williams leads race for UWI Mona principal, claims insider - Jamaica Gleaner

      Professor of international business and a senior administrator at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Densil Williams, has been recommended to take over as principal of the financially troubled Mona campus in Jamaica, The Sunday Gleaner has learnt.

      However, the final decision rests with the University Council, the highest decision-making body of the 75-year-old regional institution, which will consider Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles' recommendation at a meeting on Wednesday.

      Under Statute 10, the university's law which governs the appointment of principals, the principal “shall be appointed by the council on the recommendation of the vice-chancellor”.

      Williams, who is the current principal of the four-year-old Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda, is among four candidates shortlisted to lead the oldest of The UWI's five campuses.

      The others are climate scientist Professor Michael Taylor, dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology; and Professor Lloyd Waller, the executive director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre – all at Mona; and Professor Agnis Stibe. Little is known about Stibe.

      Taylor, Williams and Waller declined to speak to The Sunday Gleaner on the matter. Stibe could not be reached.

      NO COMMENT

      The university has also said it could not comment on the selection, saying it “first has a responsibility to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the appointment process which is still ongoing”.

      “As is customary, once the process is completed, and an appointment is made, an official statement will be issued,” said Dr Rhonda Jaipaul-O'Garro, university director of marketing and communications, in a statement to this newspaper on April 14.

      The panel that interviewed the candidates voted “overwhelmingly” on April 13 in favour of Williams, a highly placed Sunday Gleaner source said.

      Williams reportedly received at least eight votes, followed by Waller who got two and one going to Taylor.

      The panel comprises at least 11 persons. They included vice-chancellor Beckles; the university's registrar and bursar; the campus principals; the Mona guild of students' president; the union The West Indies Group of University Teachers for Mona, and Jamaica's Education Minister Fayval Williams.

      The minister reportedly voted for Waller; however, she has not confirmed nor responded to questions from The Sunday Gleaner, which included whether Jamaica would press for a review of the decision.

      The results of a psychometric test also put Densil Williams out front, showing that he satisfied 87 per cent of the established criteria for the post. Stibe was second at 73 per cent; Taylor third at 69 per cent, with Waller completing the quartet at 67 per cent, which the source shared with The Sunday Gleaner.

      The new principal will replace Professor Dale Webber, who is stepping down come July 31, after five years, during which he said his mission was “to stabilise and consolidate” activities on the indebted campus.

      “The campus had made a number of overtures into a number of places to grow, to respond and I just get the solid feeling that we had overextended ourselves,” Webber said in response to Sunday Gleaner questions at the campus council meeting on March 3.

      “My mission was to reduce the debt; I think we saw that today. My mission was to consolidate what the campus had done into an opportunity for students to get the best possible return on the investments that we had done … to take the campus back to a place where we all were working on a common goal and felt comfortable with the outputs and outcomes … I think in the five years, I've done that,” he argued.

      PROBLEMS FOR SUCCESSOR

      Webber's admission, a veiled criticism of the leadership before him, captures some of the problems that will face his successor come August 1.

      Just last week, news emerged that the campus has been forced to cut back on security after falling into arrears with service provider Guardsman Group Limited.

      The regional institution owed the security company some $160 million but has been working out a payment arrangement, a source said.

      In an update on the campus finances for the 2021-2022 period in March, Webber noted that income generation continues to be difficult when regional governments (40 per cent) and student fees (about 16 per cent) are taken out of the equation.

      “Together they are just over 50 per cent of our income, which means the campus has a 45 per cent shortfall that it needs to find a way to close. And that's been our problem for a number of years,” he said.

      Several major projects, including commercial deals to expand student housing and a digitisation effort involving the University Hospital of the West Indies, have been seen as a drag on the institution's finances.

      The last five years have seen improvements in some areas. In 2018, the campus recorded a comprehensive loss of $1.2 billion, a figure which climbed to $3.4 billion in 2019.

      Then in 2021, for the first time in six years, the campus recorded a positive comprehensive income of $467 million. However, operational loss for the period was $1.3 billion.

      For 2022, a positive income was also reported at $1.5 billion before depreciation and post-employment benefits are deducted.

      “We clearly are turning the ship in the right direction,” said Webber, before acknowledging that Mona's operational loss for 2022 was $287 million, 79 per cent less than the amount for 2021.

      It is also the third consecutive year that the Mona campus was able to reduce its deficit.

      The campus has an accumulated deficit, which stretches back to 2012, of around $8 billion.

      Webber credited spending cuts, closure of several subsidiary companies and joint venture for the improved financial conditions.

      Beckles and chairman of the Mona Campus Council commended Webber.

      “The Mona Campus has had to endure some difficult financial and fiscal environments. This has been the norm for the past couple of years. The principal and his team have done a very good job in managing these operations,” Beckles said.

      jovan.johnson@gleanerjm.com

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      Ex-principal now UP's most wanted woman criminal - Indiatimes.com

      NOIDA: Principal of a college in Baghpat not too long ago, Deepti Bahal today has three different criminal records investigation agencies looking for her as the most wanted woman in the state with a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on her capture.
      Deepti, who lived in Loni, is one of the key accused in the Bike Bot scam. She is the wife of mastermind Sanjay Bhati, who ran the operation from Noida in the garb of promoting a bike taxi venture. Probe agencies have come up with different estimates about the scale of the fraud as its threads have run into state after state. The Meerut economic offences wing, which is probing the case, estimates it to be at Rs 4,500 crore with more than 250 cases registered across the country. Deepti, who is in her 40s, has been absconding since the first cases in the scam were filed in 2019.
      Deepti has been at large since first cases in Bike Bot scam filed in 2019
      Noida: Deepti Bahal, who lived in Loni, is one of the main accused in the Bike Bot scam. An EOW official in Meerut told TOI that in 2019, the UP Police investigating the scam found her husband Sanjay Bhati and his family members incorporated a real estate company called Garvit Innovative Promoters Limited (GIPL) on August 20, 2010. This company, being run from Greater Noida, became the promoter of Bike Bot.
      "In August 2017, Bhati launched the scheme - 'Bike Bot - the bike taxi powered by GIPL' through his firm and Deepti was made additional director in the company," the official said.
      During one of the court hearings, her lawyer, however, claimed that she was a non-executive director of the company and had resigned from the firm on February 14, 2017.
      Deepti, who is in her 40s, has been absconding since the first cases in the Bike Bot scam were filed in 2019. "During the investigation, we found that she was a teacher in Baghpat before marriage. However, no proper record of her existence in the college was found," the official said.
      TOI found that the website of Baraut College of Education, Baghpat (barautcollegeofeducation.org) mentions Deepti as its principal. It also mentions Deepti holds an MA and a PhD. The college is affiliated with Chaudhary Charan Singh University.
      The first bounty on Deepti's capture, of Rs 50,000, was announced in 2020 by the EOW. In March 2021, investigating agencies attached her residence in Loni. Earlier, teams that searched her house in Meerut found she had left the city around 10 years back.
      Last year, the Supreme Court issued an order to club all the cases filed in the scam. Sources told TOI that Deepti may have fled the country soon after. Currently, proceedings to issue a red corner notice against Deepti and Bhudev Singh, another accused in the case, are under way.
      "Deepti is named in all the 118 cases registered in Greater Noida and over 150 others filed across the country. Thirty-one people and 13 companies, used for money laundering, have been named in the chargesheet," the official said.
      So far, police have impounded vehicles - a Range Rover and a Fortuner among them - registered in the name of Garvit Innovators. Assets worth over Rs 216 crore have also been seized.
      The Bike Bot scheme promised large returns to customers on their investment in motorcycles that were supposed to be used as two-wheeler taxis. Investors were asked to pay Rs 62,100 for one bike. The company offered an EMI of Rs 5,175 per month and fixed the rental at Rs 4,590 per bike per month. The scheme also included a monthly rental income bonus of 5% per bike. To gain the trust of investors, the company signed an agreement with them assuring their money was safe and the return on investment was secure.
      An FIR filed with the CBI reads: "It is further alleged that in order to extract money from investors, the company put out advertisements like 'Bike bot - the bike taxi powered by GIPL scheme will be enclosed very soon and that persons desirous to avail this scheme must deposit money hurriedly. On such advertisements, about 2 lakh investors invested money."
      The scheme was floated in August 2017 and the process of collecting money from investors and issuing repayments to them went on till early 2019. In November 2018, the company floated another scheme for e-bikes. The subscription amount for the e-bikes was almost double the investment amounts for regular petrol bikes.
      In 2019, nearly two lakh investors who participated in the scheme approached the police and filed complaints against Bhati and his firm when they did not receive the returns promised to them.
      The CBI probe is also looking into the role of Noida officials. "... (the) fact remains that complaints were submitted and fraudulent activity of the company was in the knowledge of the Noida district authority as well as police authorities who did not take any action. Rather, the SSP and SP crime branch pressured the complainants to withdraw their complaints," reads the CBI's FIR.
      Later, the Enforcement Directorate initiated a money-laundering investigation into the scam on the basis of various FIRs registered at Dadri police station against Garvit Innovative Promoters Ltd, Sanjay Bhati and others. Bhati surrendered before a local court in Surajpur in 2019.

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      Wynnebrook Elementary School principal arrested on DUI charge in Boynton Beach - WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm

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