Kimberley College deputy principals call for urgent action from school board

THE deputy principals of Kimberley College have delivered an urgent letter to the school board after embattled principal Paul Thomson and members of his family were suspended following a month-long review into the school’s financial management.

Kimberley College principal Paul Thomson on Monday. Picture: John Gass

• Principal & family ‘spent $350k’ on trip
• College group ‘want senior heads to roll’
• Principal claims he’s owed $450,000

THE deputy principals of Kimberley College have urged the board to address the unfolding issues at the school, including allegations of financial mismanagement, as a matter of urgency.

In a letter that was issued to teachers this afternoon Chris McAlpine and Ystyn Francis told staff that the board had suspended principal Paul Thomson, his wife Jennifer, his daughter Amy and husband Kevin Ferguson and other daughter Debbie Horn from duty.

“The appropriate response for the board is to suspend those employees who have been named in the report, and to provide them with an opportunity to respond to the findings before any further steps can be considered,” they said.

“The College has not reached any finding of misconduct against the individuals concerned, and they remain employees of the College.”

Kimberley College at Carbrook, south of Brisbane. .

The letter also said the board’s directors were considering their own positions given the review’s findings.

“In the meantime, the board has a responsibility to resolve the issues raised by the Australian Taxation Office which led to the review,” they said.

“The board needs to reach an outcome as a matter of priority, to address this situation so the College community can focus on the education of our children knowing that the future of the school is sustainable.

“In the interim, we, your deputies at Kimberley College, Chris McAlpine and Ystyn Francis, will manage the day-to-day operations of the school to the best of our ability.

“Although we have had to postpone the meeting planned for this afternoon, we will be meeting with as many teachers as possible over the next few days to listen to your concerns and provide support.”

Embattled principal Paul Thomson and members of his family have been suspended from Kimberley College following a month-long review into the school’s financial management.

College principal Paul Thomson.

Mr Thomson, with wife Jennifer, daughter Amy and husband Kevin Ferguson, and other daughter Debbie have all been banned from the school’s grounds for about a week.

It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed Mr Thomson and members of his family, including his daughter Amy who oversaw the college’s finances, took a $350,000 trip to the UK and Finland in 2016.

Mr Thomson posted on social media over the weekend that he was owed $450,000 from the college in unpaid wages and reimbursements.

Mr Thomson could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Chair Paul Wilton declined to comment.