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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-07-20 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

COOBER PEDY AREA SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:31): In January 2010 the principal of the Coober Pedy Area School, Sue Lewis, was put on special leave pending complaints from members of the school community who were unhappy with her enforcement of standard DECS policies with regard to attendance and truancy, uniforms, late student sign-in and parent sign-in for school security, and student behaviour management. Two internal and one independent reviews later—which, we might add, the department is unwilling to make available through FOI—Sue Lewis has been removed from her position and will be transferred. She had no opportunity to contribute to these reviews. However, she wishes to remain at the school as part of the Coober Pedy community with her family.

The Chief Executive has acknowledged the principal's contribution to improving attendance, behaviour, literacy and numeracy at the school and that her removal was not a disciplinary measure, but has sacked her anyway. When Ms Lewis was the principal in 2009, suspensions dropped to 31, compared with 56 when she took over in 2008. So far in 2010 (with Ms Lewis's suspension and the interim principal in place) suspensions have risen to 86, including two exclusions—and that is just in the first half of the year. Notably, some of Sue Lewis' most vocal critics, who have set up a Facebook site to slander her, have children with appalling records of nonattendance and nonconforming to the school's systems. Sue Lewis also reduced absenteeism by half during her tenure, but that has now doubled since she left.

The suspension of the Coober Pedy principal has been supported and, indeed, promoted by the local member for Giles, who has a close association with and support for those in the community who are hostile to the school leadership. The member for Giles presided over a public meeting on 12 November 2009. The rowdy meeting, at which alcohol was consumed, was dominated by those hostile to the principal. The District Director of DECS was in attendance with the local member, but it is unclear why or what his constructive role was.

Despite advice from the District Director, no attempt was made by the member to contact the principal prior to the public meeting being organised. An invitation to visit the school by the principal prior to the public meeting was reneged upon with, apparently, no phone call to apologise. The member recently met up with the minister, the Chief Executive of the Department of Education and Children's Services and representatives from the Coober Pedy community seeking a permanent solution to the issue, so I am surprised that the minister did not know the answer to the question I just asked regarding what Sue Lewis has done in the way of breaching DEC's guidelines.

In July the minister's predecessor was provided with 40 emails from parents and community members supportive of the principal (Ms Lewis) and requesting the minister to overturn the decision to relocate her. Why has the principal, who has reduced truancy and suspensions so dramatically and who has achieved so many positive educational and structural outcomes for the school community, been removed? While the Chief Executive concludes that the principal divided the school community, it is more apparent that the total lack of support by DECS for the principal since late 2008 has provided the catalyst for division and created a culture of noncompliance with the standard DECS guidelines which Ms Lewis was obliged to enforce.

There have been seven principals at the school in nine years, all of them blow-ins. Only Sue Lewis is a resident and a member of the community. The minister and Chief Executive have no stomach to enforce basic DECS guidelines in Coober Pedy or with its more vocal and unconventional community members. Will the minister ensure that the new principals and staff are issued with a list of locals they are not permitted to disagree with or those children to whom DECS rules do not apply? At what educational cost will this be to the greater Coober Pedy community? The problems encountered around attendance, truancy, lateness and discipline in the Coober Pedy school community will not be resolved by replacing the principal.

To illustrate the point, there is a sign in the foyer of the Coober Pedy hospital which states that 'physical and verbal abuse will not be tolerated and offenders will be prosecuted'. The element of the community at which this sign is aimed is the same minority who, when they have an issue with the school or are confronted with the standard DECS practices or rules, turn up at the front office screaming abuse and making verbal threats. This is documented. They often continue this intimidation outside the school.

In the past principals attempting to deal with this behaviour and not supported by the department have either backed down or just left. The shortest stay was six weeks. Sue Lewis did not back down. The most recent interim principal has admitted to the media that the school is a tough gig and that some of the community demonstrate little respect for education. The chief executive and minister have set an uncomfortable precedent in Coober Pedy but are consistent with this government's record of not supporting school principals.

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