The Orion Board of Directors and the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) Steering Committee have released a statement on the abrupt booting of principal Queen Thomas saying it was the result of mounting issues for many years.
“The decision not to renew the Principal’s contract comes from many years of mounting issues, and extensive feedback from parents, teachers and students,” the statement, released on Wednesday, reads. “This was a unanimous decision taken by the entire Board of Directors with the support of the vast majority of teachers, parents and students.”
The board, in its statement, said the decision has lifted a “great weight” from the school.
“And now the Orion family can move forward in a positive direction for the benefit of all students. This is a new beginning for our school and we are looking forward to even more success and productivity in the years ahead,” it said.
Thomas, who served as principal since 2013, was issued a termination letter on Monday 20th March 2017, which took effect on Tuesday 21st March 2017.
The letter stated that an evaluation exercise was conducted on the performance of Thomas during her tenure at the school and based on the feedback from the evaluation exercise, the board had decided not to renew her contract for the school year September 2017.
She said the action opens the school to ‘litigation’ and loss of finance.
Many years of mounting issues? List the issues. I mean was she late, absent, a terrible role model, didn’t dress appropriately, was disrespectful to students, teachers, parents? Additionally, not renewing a contract in September is one thing, but terminating her contact at a critical point of the school year such as this is another.
I wish the former principal well in the future. I also wish orion good things, like a change in board of directors.
If you want the issues listed ask the former principal, maybe she will forward you a copy of her letter.
Well it was about time
Best decision ever.I failed myself as a parent and should have listened to my children.
What de chiren say? How comes nobody tells us about what REALLY happened? WHAT DID DE CHIREN SAY???
It’s a private school, pay attention to your government public schools.
Why did they let her start school in September and then releases her in March. LOL She should have been released since September 2016
Some teachers think when they have a job that is it. That is an old system. Teachers should be assess every two years. That should also be done in Government schools. Too many qualified teachers having a degree cannot execute their teaching skills are something else. Children have suffered so much overs the years from incompetent and abusive teachers they would be going to jail now. Salisbury school had quite a number where the teachers jobs were protected instead of disciplinary action taken.
Crying shame…
I believe the school acted appropriately and with the students best interest at heart. All the comments in here seem to focus on the teacher while no one is emphasizing or questioning why did the students show dissatisfaction in that principle.
Maybe you need to get acquainted with the code of ethics, sudden dismissal don’t just happen, did she have a hearing, was she given enough time to defend herself, what her yearly appraisal results. Did you read the part where stuff missing and the police had to get involved. Please think before commenting.
Oh so was the evaluation only based on students dissatisfaction with the principal? I find that really crazy. Sounds like no real basis was used to evaluate the principal based on the real functions any principal. I smell a rat.
You got all the basis from DNO, WOW,
Absolute hogwash!! This sudden action is not in keeping with the chronic problem of the principal’s underperformance, if we are to believe the board , It states that : “The decision not to renew the Principal’s contract comes from many years of mounting issues, and extensive feedback from parents, teachers and students,” the statement, released on Wednesday, reads. “This was a unanimous decision taken by the entire Board of Directors with the support of the vast majority of teachers, parents and students.” The obvious question then is why now? What triggered this action? Could it be the suspected involvement of the board’s Chairman son in wrong doing and the potential punishment which could follow? Surely the explanation from Orion’s board is not creditable and reflects poorly on the board. Queen the ball is in your courts, I suggest you sue them for breach of contract, embarrassment, a deliberate attempt to smear your career (by talking about a weight has been lifted off Orion)…
It doesn’t necessarily need a trigger if it is a result mounting factors and has been under scrutiny for a while. Like you I disappointed with the statement though,as it appears to be underhanded. They are telling you something while telling us nothing.
Knowing how the system suppose to works,it’s a lack respect and very poor ethics to terminate an individual abruptly like this, I honestly hope she sues the daylight out of you all and wins.
This is humiliating to this to someone, it’s uncalled for and if she ask for monies to support her cause I will donate because there was no after thought and an absence of principles. This was done in a way to teach her a lesson like she had no dignity, some people’s need to follow proper procedure .
Why not wait until her contract was up. I think is more to the story. It sound fishy.
Yeah right…This statement cannot fool right thinking and educated individuals. Poor performance? Hmmmm…Was the principal appraised on a yearly basis? If so what deficiencies did it reveal? What steps/measures were taken to rectify concerns with her performance? Did the board set targets that the principal failed to meet? This is just a big cover up…I smell a lawsuit…
indeed, she should be the one facing a lawsuit…she is lucky she only got fired
You are not in line with what the above comment
ikr I agree with you. A school with record breaking results in Exams and Spelling Bees, how poor could the
Principal’s performance have been.
Covering up for the Chairman.
none of that was her doing all of that were the vice principals doing
I agree! If someone is not performing their outlined duties even after the first evaluation report, why did they continue to renew her contract??
Not me they fooling! But then again everything in Dominica is upside down, inside out.
Would like to read comments from Orion students, parents, and teachers.
That is none of your business.Are you part of the board? As a parent i believe the school will be in a much better position.
But 100% you were a sheep, no? After all, if you had issues with her, why did you and the other displeased parents come forth and SAY SOMETHING? Now you asking people if is their business/ YES! It our business because it is on the world wide web for ALL to see. Saqway cohpahwayzoh!
Smell a Rat! Whose Next? Stay Tuned!
But that is not very courteous of Orion academy to give a notice letter Monday for Tuesday. They could have atleast given a week or 2 notice.
So, it took 4 years to terminate her ? The school had problems prior so why take the action now and not in the years prior ? I hope she sues the school and wins….something is fishy.
Well, it sure took forever and a day to terminate her! ( If) they had issues with her, did she know? Did they take appropriate measures to rectify or discipline her? Was she even aware that she was under a microscope? if the students are as ill disciplined as I read/heard, then why put that on the principal? Charity begins at home–blame their mudda and fadda. something’s not right with their story.
“The decision not to renew the Principal’s contract comes from many years of mounting issues, and extensive feedback from parents, teachers and students,”
Well – this isn’t particularly of national interest as the school is a private one but; if the decision taken was one of not renewing her contract – why couldn’t they have waited till August (when her contract expires)? surely if the issues had been mounting for many years , a few more months would not have killed the school!
Doesn’t make sense to put the school in that spot light by firing someone forthwith when there is a matter of months left on their contract.
You are too logical. Dominica is not a logical country. Those who believe they have power are compelled to show the size of their mojo. In Dominica, sentiment reigns, not logic.
True
Exactly!
Some people too like their wrong to pass for their right!
It’s like abandoning ship when you know the ship is sinking, would you stay on board while it sink or jump and swim like hell.