Dear Editor,

I write specifically in relation to the School Board of the Anna Regina Secondary (Multilateral) School, Order No. 18 of 1993 brought this school into the ambit of Board Schools.

The latest Board of Governors was appointed by the Minister of Education in July 2005. There are several burning issues that parents, staff, students and the wider community are concerned about and on which straight answers seem impossible to find.

1. Why has the Board not convened its meeting with parents, due since July, 2005?

2. Who exactly are the members of this Board and what do they do in the context of the school?

3. Why did the Regional Chairman decide on the twelve names in July, 2005 without any consultation and why did the then Minister choose them knowing that seven of the Board members were party activists?

4. What part did the Board play in moving the Minister’s scheduled meeting with parents from the school’s auditorium to the Regional Boardroom in September, 2005, knowing that serious questions were going to be raised in connection with the composition of the Board?

5. Why did the Board deliberately sideline the PTA, neglect to seek tuition for students writing Chemistry and Physics at CSEC in June, 2006 and fail to come to the rescue of these students after the Head-teacher (Ag) had prohibited them from using the school for lessons organized by the PTA and conducted by two teachers from Q.C?

6. Why did the Board deliberately disregard a High Court order for the Canteen Operator to cease operations and hand over the premises to the Canteen Committee but reinstated the same operator?

7. By what authority did the Board disband a legitimately elected Canteen Committee, install their own committee and award contracts under questionable circumstances?

8. Why has the Board awarded contracts for building of two fences (without requisite three-quote or tender process), one to a party group associated with the Chairman of the Board and one to a relative of the Headmistress?

9. By what logic has the Board brought back a teacher to teach Geography (CSEC passes 2004 – 47% 2005 – 39% 2006 – 26%) who was disciplined by the TSC by way of secondment to a Community High School for “persistent disregard for authority and dereliction of duty”?

10. Why has the School Board failed to investigate the same teacher who on two occasions inflicted violence on two students, chucking one and flooring one, knowing fully that the teacher has had a history of violence and intemperate behaviour?”

11. Why is the Board condoning the fleecing of children by a teacher who does photography during school hours, abandons classes, smokes in school, is almost always late, falsifies times of arrival and awards questonable grades?

12. Why has the Board failed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy of two students (one failed to enter for CSEC 2007) and failed to relate to stakeholder agencies dedicated to the protection of our children?

13. Why did the Board mislead the media about its role in the rehabilitation of the dormitory, knowing the PTA had initiated the project?

14. Why is the Board encouraging a lesson – factory situation rather than recruiting qualified and experienced teachers?

Many stakeholders are wondering whether the Board is bored, floored or moored. It is time that the Chairman and this clique do the decent thing – report to the parents.

Yours faithfully,

P. Lall