School principal backed

THE board of Launceston Church Grammar School has thrown its support behind headmaster Richard Ford, amid calls for him to be dismissed.

It comes after a meeting yesterday, convened by the Independent Education Union, which saw more than 50 staff renew their push for an overhaul of the school’s leadership.

Union members voted in favour of a motion calling for Mr Ford to be removed, following another motion of no confidence in the school’s leadership, which was raised at a meeting on February 21.

Staff are concerned about a lack of consultation about changes at the school and claim they are not being listened to.

Mr Ford took over as principal of the elite co-educational school two years ago, and since then there has been a large turnover of staff.

But last night, school board chairman Nigel Bailey said the board wanted to “reiterate” that Mr Ford “has our full backing”.

“It is disappointing that a vote of no confidence has been carried, but this vote needs to be put in context,’’ he said.

“It was a motion proposed and actively promoted by the Independent Education Union in the midst of enterprise agreement negotiations for staff at Launceston Grammar.”

IEU Victoria and Tasmania deputy secretary David Brear said the union was calling for the board to meet with a delegation of members to discuss a way forward.

“We hope the board would agree to that, and that it would happen in the next week or so,’’ he said. “The union has been contacted by an increasing number of parents who are concerned about what’s going on in the school.

“Some have talked about setting up a Facebook page of concerned parents, as a forum where parents can discuss their concerns.”

A school parent previously told the Mercury she felt devastated about the changes she had seen to the school’s culture, including a “hostile” work environment. At a previous meeting of union members, staff voted to seek permission from the Fair Work Commission to take protected industrial action as negotiations on a new enterprise bargaining agreement continued.

Mr Brear said that was still a possibility, but he said the school had made an “improved offer which goes some of the way to addressing concerns raised” by staff.

Mr Bailey said it was not unusual for enterprise negotiations to include matters relating to workplace conditions.

“As a result, constructive discussions have been held and we are addressing concerns,” he said. .