Some former chairmen of the board of St James High have painted a picture of dysfunction at the institution dating back decades.
The men, who spoke with Nationwide News on Thursday, each described a relationship between the board and principal Joseph Williams as confrontational and acrimonious.
Kimone Thompson reports.
The ex-chairmen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Williams showed contempt for the board, used intimidation tactics, and treats the school as his personal fiefdom.
They painted a similar picture of the principal’s relationship with staff and students.
Williams has come under fire for his handling of the case in which two former students of the school were expelled without due process.
The students, two girls, were seen in a two-second GIF kissing each other. One of the girls posted it to her WhatsApp status.
The incident occurred in January. One girl was only just enrolled in a private school this month, while the other is yet to be placed.
Current chairman, Christopher McCurdy, has written to Josephs, requesting a full report on the improper expulsion of the girls.
According to the letter, a copy of which Nationwide has seen, the report is expected to be produced at the board meeting which was scheduled to begin at 4 this afternoon.
In the letter, McCurdy tells Williams that the incident reflects poorly on the reputation and integrity of the school and that the issue must be addressed swiftly and transparently to uphold the principles of justice and fairness.
When contacted earlier this afternoon, McCurdy said the meeting was expected to be short as there were only two items on the agenda – the expulsion of the students and the constitution of the board’s personnel committee.
McCurdy has also written to the Director of The Ministry of Education’s Region Four, requesting counselling for the girls.
The chairman says the students’ mental health needs to be a priority.
Credit: Source link