Backflip on school principal decision

The Education Department has bowed to pressure and revoked its decision to replace an inner-city principal after parents voiced outrage over the decision.

The Education Department has bowed to pressure and revoked its decision to replace an inner-city principal after parents’ outrage over the decision.

Dutton Park State School Acting Principal Philomena Downey will remain in the position until the end of the year, according to the P&C association.

A P&C spokeswoman told The Courier-Mail they were “very impressed” with the response from Education Queensland, which had informed them the principal would remain in the role until at least the end of the year.

It follows parental anger and teachers’ devastation last week after the department revealed it would be replacing the principal at the end of this term, meaning the school would have had its third leader this year.

Leading a campaign against the move, the Dutton Park P&C wrote to the Department’s Director-General Tony Cook on Thursday expressing concern at the change of leadership amid the turbulence of COVID-19 and the historical leadership turmoil at the school.

A Dutton Park State School P&C statement said they had met with officials on Friday and the Education Department had explained “Philomena was put in place as an emergency measure, expecting it to be just for a term”.

“We explained that as a school community, our focus right now is on consistency and stability.

“We have found Philomena wonderful to deal with and what we all need at this time.”

“They’ve taken all that into account and they have informed us that in the school’s extenuating circumstances, Philomena will be extended until at least the end of the year. Also the P&C exec will be included in the conversation for what happens after that.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said they could not comment on individual human resource matters for “privacy reasons”.

But a spokesman said in recognition of the disruptions to school operations this year due to COVID-19 they had consulted with the Dutton Park State School community to determine the best way forward.

“The Dutton Park State School leadership team will continue to focus on providing high quality education for its students,” the spokesman said.