Hillcrest College parents launch petition to have principal stood down

The Hillcrest Christian College scandal has deepened with parents sensationally demanding the principal be stood down and forensic investigators appointed.

Parents are demanding the principal of Hillcrest Christian College be stood down.

PARENTS at an embattled Gold Coast Christian college have sensationally launched a petition calling for the principal to be stood down.

The extraordinary move by parents at Hillcrest Christian College comes a day after the school board publicly backed besieged principal Jeff Davis at the Baptist Church-run institution.

The college has been rocked by allegations of bullying against Mr Davis, the sacking of a senior staff member and controversy over hundreds of thousands of dollars in school loans to a private company set up to commercialise a reading program.

Hillcrest Christian College principal Jeff Davis.

Former college chief operating officer Ray Deetlefs has vowed legal action after being stood down last week over what he says are ‘trumped-up’ allegations of ‘serious misconduct’ and says the matter will ‘explode spectacularly’ in court.

On Tuesday, as classes resumed after the school holidays, the college board wrote to parents reaffirming its support for Mr Davis.

The board said an ‘external review’ had made some recommendations but ‘it is very clear there are no grounds for termination of Mr Davis’ employment’.

Overnight, some Hillcrest parents have launched an online petition calling for the appointment of a ‘professional third party forensic investigator to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into ‘serious allegations’.

“We call for Mr Davis and any other person involved in those allegations to be stood down until the conclusion of the investigation,” the petition states.

“We also require that information to be provided to the third party forensic investigator may come from the Board, staff and parents/caregivers at the College.”

The petition says allegations that need to be independently probed include claims of bullying against staff, alleged conflict of interest surrounding the I Love Reading program which was recently sold for more than $1 million, loans given by the school and ‘any other allegations, concerns or conduct not in line with College Constitution and values’.

“Although the College has indicated it has sought external assistance, the College has been unclear on what has been considered or who provided that assistance,” the petition states.

“This petition calls for an investigation into the above specific matters by an independent forensic investigator who receives information both from the board and college staff as well as parents.”

Comment was being sought from the college.

Originally published as Hillcrest College parents launch petition to have principal stood down