Call to sack Mullumbimby principal
A GROUP of parents are renewing calls for the sacking of Mullumbimby High School principal Ian Graham in the wake of Jai Morcom's death.
Foster parent of two students, Alex Devantier, said he had organised a meeting at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall tonight where parents would put forward a vote of 'no confidence' in Mr Graham.
According to Mr Devantier, many students, parents and staff have long been dissatisfied with Mr Graham's performance, and Jai Morcom's death was 'the straw that broke the camel's back'.
He said a diary of complaints had been compiled over the past 12 months and this was presented to representatives of the Department of Education last week.
Mr Devantier said he believed there had been many instances of violence and bullying that had gone unreported to the department.
North Coast school education director Greg Cloak said he would take all comments on board, but appeared sceptical about the complaints, saying some were from 'ill-informed or new parents'.
Mr Cloak said that most reports to the Education Department about the Mullumbimby principal had been positive.
Mother Sara Lehane said she took her son out of the school 18 months ago due to a culture of bullying, and what she felt was an unsatisfactory response from the principal to her son's complaints.
“I know at least two other mums who have taken their children out within the past three months because they felt there was trouble brewing,” she said.
The meeting on Tuesday will also call for the resignation of the entire P&C Association, which, according to Mr Devantier, was 'stacked with teachers' and does not fairly represent the views of parents.
He said many parents were outraged when they read comments made to the media last week by the P&C president Mark Collinson, who said the P&C fully supported Mr Graham.
Mr Cloak said no action would be taken until an investigation, directed by 'an independent and highly respected' school principal, was carried out in accordance with Department of Education procedures and protocols.
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