TEACHERS AT Seaforth High School in St Thomas are insisting that normalcy cannot be guaranteed at next week’s start of the new school year amid their continued disquiet over the dismissal of the principal.
Calbert Thomas, who served the school for 33 years but who was officially appointed principal in 2018, was dismissed this year after being sent on leave in January when financial irregularities were uncovered at the school.
The school’s bursar, Noel Williamson, was also sent on leave but has since been reinstated.
The education ministry conducted an investigation during which it uncovered a number of financial irregularities at the school, including the non-remittance of deductions.
There has been some amount of unease at the school since the principal was sent on leave, which has intensified with his dismissal.
Among the teachers and staff’s concerns are that no clear reason was given for his dismissal and, further, that Williamson was reinstated while Thomas was dismissed.
Two weeks ago, disgruntled teachers, parents, and students staged a protest, calling for the principal to be returned to the helm of the school. The teachers had also warned then that a smooth opening would not be guaranteed if the principal remained off the job.
A meeting was held yesterday at the school with the staff, personnel from the Ministry of Education and Youth Region One, and members of the school board.
Unanswered questions
However, according to one of the concerned teachers, the board members and the ministry were unable to explain why the principal was dismissed, claiming the matter was now before the court.
“From my perspective, I don’t think the meeting was very fruitful because we still have a lot of unanswered questions,” the teacher stated. “All they are saying is that they found financial irregularities, but the media is saying none was found, so I don’t know where the misleading information is coming from.”
But the teacher, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, who are clamouring for Thomas’ return, said, “As you heard from the last protest, no Mr T, no school. So come Monday, we can’t promise normalcy at Seaforth High.”
Meanwhile, Thomas, whose dismissal becomes effective on September 30, is maintaining that he was unjustly dismissed while insisting that there is a personal vendetta against him by the school board.
“I would have had one of the best records at the school as principal, even at present when I am seeing the results for students who would have gone through COVID. Those students would have done very well in their exams,” he said.
According to Thomas, he has much more to contribute to the school ,but in the meantime, he is concerned about the state of indiscipline at the school and how students are being treated and the number of students being transferred since his suspension.
According to him, indiscipline is at its lowest and students have been turning up at his home to complain and to enquire about his return.
Thomas also claimed that parents of more than 200 students have sought transfers while several other students have been sent on suspension.
However, the school board chairman, Dean Jones, said he was not aware of any issue with students seeking transfer. While indicating that he was aware of everything that was happening at the school, he said he did not wish to comment on the matter of student suspension. He also declined to comment on the principal’s dismissal.
As it relates to the promise by teachers that there may be some disruption come Monday, he said there are contingencies in place.
Thomas, since his dismissal, has taken legal action and is seeking a judicial review of the board’s decision to relieve him of his job. The matter is currently before the Supreme Court.
Seaforth High on edge after principal’s dismissal | Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner
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