"Santa Familia" - it's a Spanish language term for the holy family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But in the western village that carries that name, there's been no family type sentimentality in an unholy war that a group of parents have been waging on the school principal.The news tonight is that the principal is gone. But before that happened things came to a head yesterday when the Catholic school management and the ministry of education were called to a meeting to mediate the parents' group's utter dissatisfaction with the principal.
Jim McFadzean was there:
Jim McFadzean, Reporting
"It's been a whole week now and hundreds of students from the village of Santa Familia have been kept out of classes by their parents who are refusing to return them to classes where an embattled Principal, Ms Flowers is refusing to give into their demands."
The estimated 280 enrolled student body of the Santa Familia Roman Catholic Primary School, have been caught smack in the middle of a virtual standoff between their parents and the school's administration. In a letter of complaint lodged with the school's catholic administration and copied to the National Teacher's Union and the Ministry of Education, the parents are accusing the Principal of gross and abusive behaviour toward parents, children and fellow teachers, and excessive school fees that are not being accounted for thru transparent reporting. They are demanding the principal be removed. The parents say their calls for an investigation into wrongdoing has been ignored now for too long by both the school's administration and the Ministry of Education.
Jim McFadzean
"There are the usual elements that are said to be fuelling this dispute: nepotism and politics. Santa Familia is no different."
Norma Tun, Concerned Parent
"Ms. Flowers do whatever she wants. She sold the library to her sister, she didn't come and consult with the parents. The cafeteria is run by her mother. The school is not getting any benefit out of it, the only thing she is selling is sweets. There are other things that the children can buy like fruits and food. I think these things are for the school. All we are asking is for her to be transferred to somewhere else."
Jim McFadzean
"Is there any truth that this might be political at this point?"
Norma Tun
"This is not political. We told Ms. Flowers in a letter that this is not political. We are parents that are tired of what she is doing to us, she has been victimizing for years now. But we didn't have the strength to stand up. But now we have the strength and we will continue on this strike."
General Manager of the Roman Catholic Schools says there are some truths to the accusations, but the principal's decision had the backing of the administration.
Bernardino Pech, General Manager, Catholic Schools
"The claims seems to have truth because some of the claims that were made accusing Ms. Flowers of certain things. In consultation with the management, she did what she did for example the issue about the sale of the library, it was because it was advice to her to do so because of an incident where some children were bitten by bees."
Jim McFadzean
"The accusations of nepotism that the principal has lease the cafeteria to her mother."
Bernardino Pech
"Ok, that too, we've found that it may appear to be so, but it is not as it is being allege. The lady had already been doing this before the cafeteria was open. She had been feeding children before at her home. When the cafeteria was donated then she continued doing this in the building that wasn't her own home."
Jim McFadzean
"Is she paying some sort of lease money for that building?"
Bernardino Pech
"No, no, she is not paying. She does her little sales besides feeding some children free of cost because certain consortium had donated the building and some food stuffs for some children, but only for a limited number of children. For extras then anybody who needed food would buy from her. "
Enrique Quiroz, Village Council Chairman, Santa Familia
"I believe that this don't have anything to do with politics. The parents have a concern and whatever the villagers, as you know the villagers are the one that make the demand and they want a change and we should definitely listen to their concern, because they are the one asking for this. You've seen the majority that are out here, that's what they want and that's what they should get."
A meeting which was planned for ten o'clock at the village's community center was cancelled after the key players in the negotiations, the BNTU, Ministry of Education and the Catholic Administration at last minute, decided that the high emotions running amongst the parents created for a volatile situation. Cayo police kept a noticeable presence to keep some of those emotions in check, whilst at the Santa Familia school, the principal met with her General Manager, the BNTU and Ministry to decide on a more neutral venue for the meeting.
Huddled amongst some of her colleagues for whatever support she can garner, some of whom are principals themselves, Antonia Flowers the beleaguered Principal of the Santa Familia Roman Catholic primary school declined an interview with Seven News, saying only that she will wait out the results of an investigation into the claims of wrongdoing. BNTU's President, Jaime Panti says while he understands the parents concerns, the principal who is a member of the BNTU is entitled to due process.
Jaime Panti, President BNTU
"I have to be very honest because this would have been dealt from the very beginning, it's just a matter of sitting down and try to move forward. If people are not getting certain level of commitment or response then they will eventually start to organised and take it to this level."
Jim McFadzean
"Who are we supposed to blame today?"
Jaime Panti
"Everybody, the people on one side, I guess that they are so emotionally charged they can't have a level of reasoning. When you negotiate you have to compromise. And I think that they are not compromising and the same thing with management. I think they need to come forward and make a statement as to what is their position in relation to the issues. So that the people understand and from there then we can move forward. "
Jim McFadzean
"Now these accusations about Principal Flowers, has there been any investigation started yet to determined if any or all of those accusations has some truth to it?"
Jaime Panti
"There has been a preliminary investigation. I think that there has to be an in depth investigation. So far there has not been any. I have to tell you that the BNTU participated in that because we are part of their regional body. There hasn't been anything incriminating at this stage. You can't move somebody because of allegations. There has to be the facts and the evidence has to come forth with. If there isn't then that's where you need to meet the people so that you can compromise and move the plan forward."
Jim McFadzean
"That's going to be quite difficult if in fact none of these accusations are found to be valid and the parents continue to insist that the principal be removed. And until then the children are the ones that are caught in the middle suffering at this point aren't they?"
Jaime Panti
"That's very true. Probably I venture to say that is has escalated into other aspects more than accusations and I think that's where we are. Let's see how it is going to turn out this afternoon."
Trying to get the two sides to the negotiating table, at least to one where both could agree on, was not easy, and the Ministry of Education's District Manager, Luis Carballo found himself trying to do a balancing act in the middle of some angry and frustrated parents.
Jim McFadzean
"There is only 1 month before classes close for the summer, this is going to have a great effect on the students ability to moved on come September."
Luis Carballo, MOE, Cayo District Manager
"There are a lot of things that is happening. The final exam for the third term has not been given as yet. They have a whole month of classes' preparations for exams. It does have a lot of implications. But the parents are saying that if the management don't meet with them they are not going to send their children back to school. It's something that we still have to continue negotiating so that, that amount of time is minimum possible."
Jim McFadzean
"What about your children that are missing important days. There are the final days for this school year. Are you concern about that?"
Norma Tun
"Of course, I am concern about that because I know that this is the final. But like I say we parents can teach our children what they need. If we have to sacrifice all of this, we will do it. Until they give us an answer and then Mr. Carballo will call us before 3 o' clock to see what agreement they reach to. Or else we are going to Belmopan and we are going to the Ministry of Education to let them listen to us. I don't think (they say she has 14 parents with her) if you are not guilty why don't you come and speak to the people. Why is it that she is running from us? If she is not guilty, if she have the proof about what we are saying a lie come to us and stand up to us."
Jim McFadzean
"If Ms. Flowers is not removed your children do not go back to school?"
Norma Tun
"If Ms. Flowers is not removed our children will not go to school. It will be a sacrifice to us but we will keep on to this. They will not go to school."
Jim McFadzean
"And you heard it, that's the final word now from the parents association in Santa Familia Village. They are not going to budge."
Reporting for Seven News, I am Jim McFadzean
After cooler heads prevailed, several members of the parents association decided to attend a meeting held at the Sacred Heart Parish later in the evening. According to district education manager Luis Carballo it was agreed that for the remaining four weeks of school the principal Antonia Flowers would be transferred to another school and starting Monday the Familia Roman Catholic Primary School will have a new interim principal. This is only until the investigation into the allegations against Principal Flowers is concluded. If she is vindicated and no wrongdoing is found, she can return to her post in Santa Familia - but there is a likelihood that by that time the Catholic School Management may have other plans.
Again, we requested interviews from the principal but she declined. We stand ready to air her side of the story.
