Parents back principal facing suspension

PARENTS of students at a controversial school have backed the principal who is facing the threat of suspension.

Co Kilkenny Vocational Education Committee has asked Education Minister Mary Hanafin to suspend Cathy McSorley because of what they have called her unsatisfactory performance as head of Kilkenny City Vocational School.

An independent report given to the VEC last January confirmed reports students were being paid by an unknown source to attend.

Co Waterford VEC chief executive Paddy Lavelle’s report also found there was a particularly negative and counter-productive atmosphere in the school and students who were on the roll since September 2004 had not been in attendance.

The findings were rejected by Ms McSorley, who said the school provided a good education for all its students. She also made representations to the VEC before its meeting last week at which it was decided to seek her suspension, having secured a High Court order in June preventing the latest report into the school being discussed by the VEC.

The parents’ association has come to Ms McSorley’s defence and said the students have been caught in the middle of the dispute.

In a statement, chairperson Joan Cantwell and secretary Kay Browne said: “We want to state categorically that the parents and students have every confidence in the principal Cathy McSorley and we fully support her.

“In our view, she is probably the most competent and able principal you would wish to find. Her loss to the school and the students would be a tragedy.”

The parents’ association questioned how confidential decisions of the VEC have ended up in the media.

“We are sick and tired, not to mention extremely angry, at what is happening to our children because of the agenda of a small group of destructive people.

“Once again, we are reading that our children are abusing teachers, have no discipline and are getting paid to attend classes. None of these allegations have any foundation to them but our children have to endure the hurt and shame caused by such publicity.”

The parents’ association has asked Education Minister Mary Hanafin why no action has been taken by her department to deal with the people “damaging our children by spreading one false allegation after another.”

“We regret to say that no action has been instigated by the minster’s department, or indeed by Co Kilkenny VEC, to deal with our concerns.”

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland has suspended a number of staff at the school from membership and is understood to support the VEC’s latest move.

A 2003 Department of Education inspectorate report found student numbers had dropped significantly, levels of truancy were high, and student abuse of teachers had been alleged.