Redman:Heads excluded from hiring process

BSTU officials Mary Redman and Patrick Frost, at today's sitting of the Commission of Inquiry into the Alexandra School. (Lennox Devonish)

By Barry Alleyne | Thu, August 16, 2012 - 12:20 PM

Two months.
That's how long it took before numerous problems regarding the management style of Jeff Broomes arose at the Alexandra School.
And according to president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union, Mary-Ann Redman, the Ministry of Education was informed of the principal's actions and subsequently wrote him about hiring persons to teach at the school without consulting relative heads of departments.
Redman made this disclosure today to a Commission of Inquiry at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
According to Redman, even after being written about the practice, Broomes continued to bring on new teachers without involving department heads.
Redman informed the Inquiry that Broomes had hired teachers without consulting heads Gail Streat-Jules (Fine Arts), Amaida Greaves (Science), Marvo Clarke (English) and Deborah Springer-Bryan (Home Economics).
"They were all excluded from the process," Redman told the Inquiry within five minutes of her testimony.
In response to a question from Commission attorney Milton Pierce, Redman said prior to Broomes' tenure as principal, the Union previously had no reasons to deal with problems at the Alexandra School.
Redman, who has been Union president since 2005, also testified that things were "peaceful" at the St Peter institution before Broomes arrived.
"His style was one of non-inclusion with the department heads. Heads should play an active role in the hiring of persons in their respective departments," Redman asserted.
"It has been custom and practice across secondary schools in Barbados," the veteran teacher added.
Redman said the principal's actions of non-inclusion had reared its head in 2003.
"He was told during a series of meetings to desist. All principals in Barbados were even circularised regarding the issue as well."
Redman testified that acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Gilford Alleyne also informed Broomes he was to involve all department heads as part of the hiring process of teachers.
Redman also noted that after it was discovered Mr Broomes continued to practice hiring teachers without consulting teachers even after being directed to do so by the ministry, nothing was done to correct the situation.

barryalleyne@nationnews.com

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Posted by En Dee 9 months, 1 week ago: Broomes may have had no choice. As we heard from a few truthful teachers, there were cliques of teachers who wanted to hear nothing from Broomes or anyone else and wanted things done their way or not at all. We may be paying a bit too much attention to what Frost and Redman have to say. Let us be very careful. Many people have their own agendas. Nigel D.