John Paul College loses 65 staff over last year in “mass exodus”

A leading Queensland private school has lost 25 staff in just four months after a restructure described as a ‘slash and burn’ process.

A LEADING Queensland ­private school has lost 25 staff members in just four months in was has been slammed as a “mass exodus”.

John Paul College lost 65 staff members last year, with 25 leaving between September and early this month.

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The Daisy Hill school is renowned for its performing arts faculty, which counts pop star Dami Im among its alumni.

However, The Courier-Mail revealed last year that a move to make the traditionally holistic curriculum more academic had outraged parents.

John Paul College principal Karen Spiller says the school has a standard turnover. File picture

It was also revealed last August that the college was undergoing a contentious restructure, which led to several staff being made redundant. Sources claimed there was a feeling of “unrest” at the college.

One source said that changes came “too fast, too quick” and without adequate communication. “The axe went down,” the source said. “The way things were going, you needed to jump ship before you could possibly get terminated.”

However, principal Karen Spiller said with more than 560 full-time, part-time and casual staff members, John Paul College had a standard turnover.

“Staff left for a number of reasons, including not returning from parental leave; interstate or international relocations; promotions and positions offered at other schools; for some staff, including casuals and fixed-term contracts, end of contract; retirement and other leave,” Mrs Spiller said.

John Paul College at Daisy Hill. File picture: John Gass/AAP

Figures provided by John Paul College show that 67 staff left in 2017 and 47 left in 2016.

However, one source said the school’s restructure felt like a “slash and burn” process.

“There are always normal people moving, relocating, things like that, but the fact of the matter is that a lot of the people have moved in order not to be made redundant and (then) not have a job,” the source said.

“We haven’t been told openly and truthfully what path (the principal) is taking.”

Mrs Spiller said from January 2018, staff were consulted and informed about the proposed organisational changes.