This week there would have been a third teacher transferred from the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School at Island Harbour, were it not for the parents in particular who protested against the decision of the Education Department. In the end, the department indicated that it had understood the reaction of the parents and accordingly withdrew its decision. That was on Friday, September 12.
The school’s former Principal, Mrs Tracelyn Hamilton, was already transferred to the Adrian T Hazell Primary School and Ms Marcia Brooks, Deputy Principal, to the Alwyn A Richardson School at West End as Principal. A third senior teacher, Ms Estelle Carter, was due to be transferred to The Valley School and replaced by a Grade Six Teacher, Mrs Olivia Lake of the Alwyn A Richardson School at West End, who is the new teacher and Deputy Principal at the Vivien Vanterpool School. But Ms Carter has been allowed to stay on by the Education Department.
“I say the power of the people made a difference and I am very proud of the community,” Mrs Mavis Fleming-Drakes, the newly-transferred Principal to the Vivien Vanterpool School from the Adrian T Hazell School said. Asked what the problem was, she replied: “The issue with the parents was – why move three experienced teachers at the same time?” She added that “Teacher Estelle is not only a Six Grade Teacher, but is CPA-trained, and CPA has to do with the Test of Standards and she is experienced in that regard.”
The parents summoned Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, to the Vivien Vanterpool School to look into the matter. He was of the view “that there had been some endemic problems going on at the school for some time and one has to do with balanced staff.” Apparently trying to understand the situation, he added: “You need to balance it so you will have the younger teachers together with the older experienced teachers. You can’t put one experienced teacher and all the rest of the teachers not experienced.” He commended the parents for being part of an Island Harbour Community which sees about its own interest.
Mr Othlyn Vanterpool, the Elected Member for Island Harbour, commented that the outpouring by the parents was a case “where unity is strength.” He added: “I am glad to see that persons were able to understand that if we want something to happen, then we have to come out and show our support. I am glad that this has been done.”
Ms Palmavon Webster, an Independent Candidate at Island Harbour, had this to say: “I feel so proud to be a part of this community and to see how our women, mothers and parents, stood up for what they consider to be the value of fairness, and standing up for what is right for their children, focussed on the future…”
Meanwhile, the Education Department explained the process and reasons behind its decisions to make the transfers by issuing the following statement:
DEPLOYMENT OF NEWLY APPOINTED DEPUTY PRINCIPALS
The process for filling the vacant positions of Deputy Principal which was initiated by the Department of Education on April 1st 2014 was completed with the official confirmation of the two (2) successful applicants from the Department of Public Administration on the afternoon of Wednesday 10th September 2014.
The Department of Education Officers met the next morning and considered its options for deployment of the two (2) deputies bearing in mind that the school year had already commenced and thus the need to ensure the least negative impact. After much discussion the decision was made to deploy the two (2) deputies at the two (2) schools where the vacancies existed and for which they would have applied. i.e. Orealia Kelly Primary and Vivien Vanterpool Primary School.
At Vivien Vanterpool Primary, the deployment of the new deputy who was a Grade 6 Teacher at Alwyn Alison Richardson Primary School resulted in the transfer of the Grade 6 Teacher at that school. This caused much concern among parents who voiced their concerns to the Department based on the fact that she would have been the third senior teacher being transferred from the school.
The Department regarded the concerns valid and met this morning to give further consideration to its options.
The deployment of the new deputy to Vivien Vanterpool Primary also resulted in concerns echoed from her Grade 6 parents at Alwyn Alison Richardson Primary School where there is already a deputy principal. In light of the parent’s concerns the Department made the following decisions:-
1) Allow the newly appointed deputy who was the Grade 6 teacher at Alwyn Alison Primary to remain at the school.
2) Redeploy the second new deputy (who is a Grade 3 Teacher) to Vivien Vanterpool Primary, thus facilitating the Grade 6 teacher to remain.
These decisions require the Department of Education to take the following actions:-
1) Transfer the existing deputy principal at Alwyn Alison Primary School who is the Grade1 and Reading Recover Teacher to Orealia Kelly Primary School.
2) Employ an additional class teacher to replace her for which Executive Council’s approval will have to be sought.
3) Redeploy a Reading Recovery Teacher from another school to provide this support at Alwyn Alison Richardson School.
The Department of Education acknowledges that parents have rights to voice their concerns about matters affecting their children, admires the decisions by those parents who called and trust that all parents will feel empowered to take an active role in their children’s education.
Rhonda Connor
