Insider claims synod ‘seriously considering’ board spill at Moreton Bay College
As the chairwoman of two embattled Brisbane elite schools hits back at critics after the resignation of one its principals and a row over a $10.8m loan, a church inside says its synod is “seriously considering” spilling its board.
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THE chairwoman of a strife-torn elite Brisbane college has hit back after her board came under fire over its handling of crises including a bullying probe into the now-departed executive principal.
Samantha O’Brien, chair of the Uniting Church-run Moreton Bay College and Moreton Bay Boys’ College at Manly West, has written a lengthy letter to parents addressing the turmoil.
EXPLAINED: How Moreton Bay Colleges scandal unfolded
Moreton Bay College scandal over $10.8m loan
Moreton Bay College principal James Sloman allegedly demanded money to resign
Moreton Bay College embattled principal James Sloman resigns
It comes after the colleges’ executive principal, James Sloman, resigned from his $400,000 role last week following a long-running investigation commissioned by the board into allegations of “inappropriate, intimidating and belittling behaviour”.
The investigation wrapped up in January this year but no findings either way have been released publicly.
The board has come under attack from parents and church insiders over its handling of Mr Sloman’s ugly departure as well as school finances, including a $10.8 million loan from the girls college to ‘prop up’ the boys college.
A Uniting Church insider has claimed that the synod is “seriously considering” spilling the board over concerns in the way it is operating.
In a two-page letter to parents on Friday, Ms O’Brien said the public speculation surrounding Mr Sloman’s departure had been “a disappointing and unhelpful distraction for all of us”.
The high-powered lawyer rejected reports that Mr Sloman, who had been on leave since January, had demanded $2 million to leave.
Mr Sloman had strenuously denied the allegations.
“Mr Sloman did not request, and the College did not make, a payment of $2 million on cessation of employment,” she said.
“The Board has the full support of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Any claims to the contrary are untrue.”
Ms O’Brien said both colleges were in and extremely sound financial position’.
“Each College is self-sustaining, and both generate the consistent surpluses necessary to provide their excellent curricular and co- curricular services, meet financial obligations, provide for future capital projects and ensure long- term sustainability,” she said.
“Inter-company financial arrangements, such as inter-company loans, are common financial management tools.
“The loan in place between our Colleges is on arms-length terms and provides clear commercial benefits to both organisations. To suggest otherwise is false.”
Ms O’Brien said a 10-year capital works plan had been developed and significant suns had been invested on refurbishments.
“In a community as large as ours, there will be diverse opinions,” she said.
“This healthy diversity of views brings new ideas and different perspectives from which we can all benefit.
“In saying this, we must never lose sight of our common purpose, the wellbeing of our students and staff, and the provision of an exceptional and supportive learning environment that empowers our students to be the best they can be.
“Now is the time for us to focus on the future, united in our common purpose, while always open to learning from each other and from the past.”