School in police inquiry ‘struggling’
has resigned; the sixth was Tomorrow’s Schools came in,’’ handed over to police. he said.
Speaking to Sunday News last The report into Tomorrow’s A former board member of a week, Cassidy said he had done Schools recommends education school at the centre of a police nothing illegal or inappropriate, hubs to take over many of school laptop probe says small rural and police would find nothing of boards of trustees’ HR, property schools lack the expertise to deal concern on his laptop. He has and finance responsibilities. with complex governance issues. given awritten undertaking not Despite heads of some bigger
Paul Singh welcomes a to teach. urban secondary schools ministerial review of Singh said his slamming the report, Singh said Tomorrow’s Schools – the selfdecision to step down reformswere needed to help governingmodel of the past 30 was unrelated to smaller colleges. years – saying reforms will help Cassidy but the laptop ‘‘We’re basically a good small communities match bigger probe coincides with a example of a school that perhaps city schools. change of leadership at is struggling,’’ he said. ‘‘I think
Singh resigned from the the college, with the there are a lot of smaller board¯ofO torohanga College, school’s principal and provincial colleges that are which had been dealing with a one of its deputy struggling, they just don’t realise string of complaints against principals leaving to it. The hub concept with senior teacher Sean Gerard take up new roles. A education experts and skilled Cassidy. In November, police managerwas brought board members are needed.’’ seized a school laptop used by in to lead the school in torohanga College statutory Cassidy after the college made a October. manager Paul Matthews said the complaint relating to alleged Singh, who had school received half a dozen objectionable material. oversight of messages of support following
Detective Senior Sergeant torohanga College’s finances, last weekend’s news of the Ross Patterson said the rejected suggestions the school Cassidy investigation. investigation into Cassidy was was in crisis – but he said the Former Cambridge High ongoing and police weren’t board did need support. School principal Phil McCreery looking to lay charges at this ‘‘It’s difficult for volunteer has been appointed acting ¯ofOstage.Theschoolhasreceivedparentstorunsuchcomplexprincipal torohanga College. six complaints of inappropriate organisations as schools. It’s fair The school expects to advertise behaviour Cassidy; five have to say they’re more complex for a permanent replacement by been resolved and the teacher than theywere in 1989 when late February.
‘ There are a lot of smaller provincial colleges struggling, they just don’t realise it.’