Melbourne High School forced to readvertise assistant principal role
The prestigious school has backtracked after receiving a slew of complaints over the announcement of its new assistant principal.
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Melbourne’s most prestigious government school has been forced to readvertise a top job after a hiring bungle.
The Herald Sun can reveal former deputy principal Adriano Di Prato, who taught at Marcellin College in Bulleen for more than a decade and left in December 2019, was last month announced as assistant principal at Melbourne High School.
It is understood that Mr Di Prato left Marcellin soon after being overlooked for the principal’s job.
Principal Dr Tony Mordini, who announced the hire on Twitter, but then deleted the post, wrote in early October: “I am pleased to announce that Adriano Di Prato (a School for Tomorrow) has been provisionally appointed as an Assistant Principal at Melbourne High School. Adriano’s experience and skills will help shape the next chapter of our history.”
Melbourne High also announced the appointment on its Facebook page but deleted the post after a slew of complaints.
The Herald Sun has been told Melbourne High School will not proceed with Mr Di Prato’s appointment as assistant principal.
No formal offer of employment was also made by Melbourne High School to Mr Di Prato.
“Adrian Di Prato is not employed by Melbourne High School or DET,” a Department of Education spokeswoman said.
The Herald Sun has been told a new selection committee has been appointed to select a new candidate, due to concerns about the hiring process.
DET provisional appointments are advertised on the department’s website for 14 days for all eligible applicants to view and determine their eligibility to lodge a selection grievance.
“There is a new recruitment process and I can’t prejudice that,” Melbourne High School principal Mr Mordini said.
In one incident alleged to have occurred in September 2019, Mr Di Prato verbally confronted a student in a classroom in front of at least 15 other students.
It’s understood the complaint was investigated and didn’t result in any wrongdoing.
Mr Di Prato told the Herald Sun: “This week I learnt that the Department wishes to undertake a new process for the role, which I respect, and I look forward to the possibility of working with the Department in the future.”
Melbourne High, a prestigious state school for boys in years nine to 12, consistently receives some of the best academic results in the state. Its students obtained a median VCE score for 2020 of 37, making it the highest-achieving state school in Victoria and second overall behind three private schools.
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