Murgon primary school principal allegedly assaulted by parent

The mother of a student at a regional primary school will face court after the principal, a grandmother, was allegedly attacked on school grounds.

Queensland Teachers Union president Cresta Richardson (pictured) said teachers are fed up with violence, aggression and intimidation in their workplaces.

A South Burnett primary school principal is recovering after being allegedly bashed by a parent on the school grounds.

Murgon State Primary School principal Samantha Skerritt was allegedly physically attacked by a parent last week.

Police allege that on May 21 around 2.50pm, a woman verbally harassed staff at the school on Gore Street before assaulting Ms Skerritt, who is the grandmother of Tristian Frahm.

Tristian died in November 2021 after being bitten by a brown snake near Murgon.

His father Kerrod Frahm was initially charged with his manslaughter – a charge later discontinued.

An inquest into the circumstances of Tristian’s death will be held next month.

Police were called to the school a short time after last week’s incident and after a subsequent investigation, a 30-year-old Cherbourg woman was charged with common assault.

Queensland Teachers Union president Cresta Richardson said teachers are fed up with violence, aggression and intimidation in their workplaces.

“The alleged assault on a member of staff at Murgon State School is absolutely unacceptable and should be condemned by every single Queenslander,” Ms Richardson said.

Murgon State School principal Samantha Skerritt (far right) was allegedly attacked by a parent on the school grounds last week.

 “Teachers and school leaders are fed up with violence, aggression and intimidation in their workplace, (and) no other industry endures this behaviour at work without significant action and consequences.”

Ms Richardson said QTU believed students and caregivers who displayed aggressive behaviours towards school staff should be penalised in line with consequences of those who assault other essential workers.

“The government has made promises to protect our educators, the QTU is advocating for a rethink on penalties and processes around students, parents, and caregivers who assault and intimidate our teachers and school leaders,” she said.

“The QTU believes this should be in line with other frontline staff, like paramedics, nurses, and police.

“Without significant change in attitudes and acceptance of the disrespect our teachers and school leaders endure daily, the teacher shortage crisis will only worsen.”

Police have alleged that on May 21 around 2.50pm, a woman verbally harassed staff at Murgon State School on Gore Street before assaulting the principal, Samantha Skerritt.

A Department of Education spokesman said schools had a wide range of “powers” to deal with violent and antisocial behaviours but did not confirm whether the parent who was charged in relation to the incident had herself been banned from the school grounds.

They said these types of behaviours were not tolerated and were treated with top priority.

“Violence and anti-social behaviour are not tolerated in Queensland state schools and any situation that threatens the safety and wellbeing of students, staff or others in our school communities is treated extremely seriously, and dealt with as a matter of priority.”

The Cherbourg woman is due to appear in Murgon Magistrates court on June 24.