A prominent Dublin secondary school has appointed a facilitator in hopes of easing tensions in staff-management relations.
The Spiritan Education Trust, patron of Templeogue College with 700 students, has recommended the process amid ongoing discord at the boys’ secondary school.
A source close to the trust said they had recommended that the board appoint a moderator who would “assist them in listening to all staff and hopefully to improve the quality of relationships between staff, and between staff and the leadership team”, reports Independent.
The moderator has already started work and is due to get back to you after Christmas.
Last week, 24 of the school’s approximately 55 teachers signed a collective complaint raising concerns about “non-inclusive culture and environment at the school regarding LGBTQI+ issues”, reports Independent.
Among the issues raised in the letter to principal Niamh Quinn was the treatment of an LGBTQ+ flag in the school cafeteria.
The staff requested the initiation of the first stage of the agreed grievance process.
The letter refers to Education Secretary Norma Foley’s recent announcement of a new bullying action plan and her comments that it aims to “ensure schools are diverse, inclusive, and free from bullying in all its forms and where individual differences are both valued and celebrated”, reports Independent.
Earlier this year, 11 Templeogue College teachers signed another class-action lawsuit citing a number of concerns.
Last month, two longtime teachers at the school took the cases to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), claiming they had been harassed.
They pursued their complaints under the Employment Equality Act.
The teachers, Patricia O’Connell and Bríd Stack, said they were discriminated against by school management for filing age discrimination complaints.
However, during the hearing, it was announced that the matter had been resolved.
Another teacher has listed a separate case with the WRC. This is pursued under labor law, which covers various conditions related to a person’s employment.
Separately, a former teacher is attempting to lodge a complaint against the school with the WRC.
The school has been contacted for comment.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.