An alleged altercation between two male teachers at the Joanna Clarke Primary School on Wednesday is now under police investigation, the RCIPS has confirmed.
The Cayman Compass understands the incident, which resulted in the teachers being asked to work remotely while investigations continue, reportedly happened in the school’s playground.
Support services have been offered to a “small group” of students who witnessed the incident, the Compass was told.
“No arrests have been made as yet,” a brief police statement added.
Details on what the Department of Education Services referred to as an “alleged altercation” have not been released by police, nor the department.
‘Confusing and concerning’
The entire situation has left parents of children attending the Savannah school upset.
“My children didn’t witness the fight, [but] it is concerning all the same. The children could have been hurt,” one parent told the Cayman Compass.
She said the kids have been talking about the incident among themselves.
Parents say they are displeased with both the incident and how it was handled.
Another parent told the Compass a letter about the incident that was sent by the school was “confusing and concerning”.
The 29 Nov. letter, which was signed by principal Delton Pedley, informed parents that there was an alleged incident that took place at the school involving two members of staff.
“It is my understanding that the alleged incident occurred in the presence of a small group of students which may have included your child. We have confirmed that no student was involved in the incident. The matter is being investigated,” the letter stated.
“I understand the situation includes potentially criminal allegations, but some details would have helped put parents’ minds at ease. As it was – we had no idea what it could have been or the severity,” she said.
Both parents who spoke to the Compass asked not to be named for fear of retribution.
The parent said it was most upsetting that adults, who should be serving as examples for impressionable children, were acting in such a manner.
“A very poor showing and not in keeping with the legacy of the late Joanna Clarke, who served as an example of excellence for the school’s students,” she said.
She said others like her have similar concerns and the incident has left them questioning the type of people being hired in the Cayman Islands education system and the “oversight maintained by the school administration”.
She said thankfully her child was not present to witness the incident.
‘Thorough investigation’ under way
Mark Ray, director of the Department of Education Services, said in a statement on the incident on Thursday that the two men have been placed on remote work as a “precautionary measure”.
“We understand the concerns raised by this alleged incident and are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and staff. As such, we are working closely with the school’s administration and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident,” Ray said in his statement.
The DES director said the school’s leadership has taken measures to minimise any impact on student learning and support students who may have been affected.
“Similarly, we are exploring a range of possible interventions to address the alleged incident and prevent similar occurrences from happening in the future. These interventions may include re-training all staff on conflict resolution and providing additional support for students and staff affected by such incidents,” he added.
Ray said the DES is committed to upholding the highest standards of conduct for all educators and “ensuring that Joanna Clarke Primary School remains a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment”.
Related Videos
