St Kevin’s principal in complaint handling probe

The St Kevin’s College junior school principal has been investigated over allegations he mishandled child safety complaints made against a colleague.

St Kevin’s College junior school principal has been investigated over his handling of complaints about child safety matters.

St Kevin’s College has admitted the principal of its junior school is under investigation for his handling of complaints about child safety matters.

The school wrote to parents on Friday to advise them that the Director of Glendalough campus, James Daly, was investigated by the school’s governing body, Edmund Rice Education Australia, in February this year.

The school has only notified parents after the issue was raised by the Herald Sun.

The probe concerned Mr Daly’s handling of complaints received in 2018 and 2019 about disgraced chemistry and maths teacher Simon Parris who was stood down over his behaviour towards a male student.

St Kevin’s junior school principal James Daly has been investigated for his handling of child safety complaints.

Mr Parris was accused of giving a student a half-hug, storing hardcore pornography on his work computer and sending a student a text about a wet dream, among other allegations.

He lost his bid to get his job back, but the fallout from his tenure continues to plague the Toorak school.

The outcome of the investigation into Mr Daly’s handling of complaints about Mr Parris has been handed to the Commission for Children and Young People for consideration.

The commission’s processes have not concluded and Mr Daly has not been stood down in the interim.

There is no suggestion Mr Daly has engaged in improper conduct towards a student or any other person at the college.

The investigation process, which has been managed by EREA rather than the school’s principal Deborah Barker, continues to cause unrest among parents, staff and old scholars.

The school is still subject to an enforceable undertaking by the school’s regulator.

The letter notes that the “college has faced many challenges over the past two years and St Kevin’s has been placed in the spotlight, creating many challenges for all in the community, especially for our students”.

“This is deeply regrettable; however, we continue to move forward from four years ago with absolute diligence and a commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all the students in our care as well as our dedicated staff,” it reads.

It is signed by Ms Barker and Craig Wattam, executive director of Edmund Rice Education Australia.