Carenne Support, Peter Williams breach SNTS rules

The Department of Education and Communities needs to explain to other SNTS operators  how Carenne Support and Peter Williams are able to get away with not having suitable relief vehicles as required by the SNTS guidelines.

According to Carenne staff, both Carenne Support and Peter Williams run the most unreliable vehicles to the school. Carenne Support has routinely had to hire vehicles when its Oberon and Lithgow buses broke down. Both Ford buses used by Carenne Support have had a plethora of issues this year from failing transmissions to blown turbos to major electrical faults.

Peter Williams' Toyota has also had its share of problems, with Williams falling back on his old vehicle. According to nedkelly, Williams has sold his old bus and now has no relief vehicle.

The allowed beach of the rules is a slap in the face to contractors like Dick Spears, Cheryl Chaplin and Capebase who always have sufficient relief vehicles. When the department review its contracts for next year it should look at those who have not complied and offer them nothing.

Staff question Ros Luther's promotion

Staff at Carenne Special School have once again called staffing practices at the school into question with the promotion of Ros Luther to Assistant Principal last year. Staff claim that Neil Moon was nepotistic with the promotion and that Ros Luther should never have been promoted.

A series of Carenne whistleblowers have complained that Ros Luther is not properly qualified, not having special education qualifications. Nedkelly told Carenne Gate "Michael Auld is an incompetent fool but at least he has special ed qualifications, this bitch has nothing."

Other staff claimed that there were far better suited people in the school than Luther to take the position. Sunbeam said -

"Kylie McDonald, Janelle Kemp and Anne Baskerville all would of made better Assistant Principals than Ros Luther, she is a liar who can only control kids by locking them away."

Former Carenne Assistant Principal carennetruth told Carenne Gate that she was disappointed to hear that Luther had received a promotion - "This is a woman who has caused nothing but trouble, that locked students in the pig pen, had big Di sit on them and who implemented the program that led to Brian Carter's sacking,"

"Ros should have been reprimanded along with Terry Mahony about the travel of Jamie Hussey to Lithgow one day per week, she was the one who implemented it but instead they scapegoated Brian Carter," said carennetruth.

Given the serious allegations made against Ros Luther, staff at the Bathurst Schools Office were amazed that the MERIT Selection Panel chose Ros Luther. It was only in 2010 that she was under investigation by the Employee Performance and Conduct Directorate for using straps to hit children and lock them in the pig pen. It had also been reported to EPAC about her having students sat on by staff and the implementation of the "tranquility room", better used as a torture room.

Ros Luther has no place in the NSW education system and with her appalling record of service should face dismissal.

Sexist staffing practices at Carenne

It can be revealed that once again, Carenne Special School has bypassed proper merit selection procedures and appointed staff based on their gender and Carenne staff's own beliefs.

At the beginning of November, two School Learning Support Officer positions were filled through the ordinary interview process, with the positions going to Adam Ryan and Zach Baker. An aide who has been involved with the school for a number of years, Sue Sewell was passed over because the school needed male aides according to Neil Moon.

Moon's claim that Mrs Sewell was less suited to the job than Mr Ryan and Mr Baker because she is female is a case of blatant sexism. Staff outside of the KLAN believe Mr Ryan and Mr Baker to be immature and inexperienced. Carenne whistleblower Barracus told Carenne Gate that she believed Sewell to be a much better choice -

"Sue has worked at the school for a number of years and is a far more capable aide than Adam or Zach. Adam and Zach are immature, inexperienced and incapable of performing to the standard that Sue is."

nedkelly told Carenne Gate that the staffing decision was influenced by Ros Luther, Terry Neal, Angie Cranston and Nadine Dwyer, with the foursome telling staff that Ryan and Baker would get the job because they were just what the school needed and because they "fit into Carenne."

Once again Neil Moon demonstrates his lack of leadership and bias.

When will Peter Harvey act on Neil Moon

Neil Moon's tenure as principal of Carenne School has been nothing short of appalling. He inherited a school with serious issues, however in the space of 18 months has done absolutely nothing to resolve them and in some areas the school is far worse than it was when he took over from Terry Neal who was principal in a relieving capacity.

As School Education Director, Peter Harvey should be looking at Moon's performance closely and taking some serious action. How Neil Moon hasn't been placed on a Performance Improvement Program (PIP) is always a hot topic of discussion at SEA.

A Performance Improvement Program is implemented for a principal when they fail to meet key requirements of the position. These objectives fall into the area of educational leadership, educational programs, learning outcomes, student welfare, staff welfare, management and development, financial and physical resource management and school and community partnerships.

Educational Leadership
Neil Moon has failed to ensure the education and welfare of all students, ensuring effective teaching and learning practices throughout the whole school and has failed to collaborate with the school community.

Students in certain classes learn while others do not. There are a number of teachers at Carenne who are of concern to SEA, notably Michael Auld and Ros Luther. Both of these teachers have a poor history of educating students at Carenne, with Auld being more interested in pet projects such as RDA. These projects are taking away from student's education while being supported by Moon.

Moon has never collaborated with the school community. The results of the school review were covered up and major changes have not been communicated to parents and carers.

Educational Programs
Educational programs is an area where Neil Moon has improved the school. He has required more realistic work experience and has more students participating in vocational programs. He has also implemented the QuoCKA and PBL programs.

His only let down in this area is by letting Auld do what he likes with agricultural programs while neglecting students other curricular needs.

Learning Outcomes
In a school like Carenne, learning outcomes are hard to measure. If you look at how many students go on to successful post-school programs and how many students receive their HSC in Living Skills, Carenne has always done well.

Again, Auld is the let down of Moon in this area. He is allowing too many of the schools resources to be allocated to agriculture programs that students and parents are not interested in.

Student Welfare
This is one of the most important areas for a principal to manage and Neil Moon has performed abysmally. Most parents do not believe that Neil Moon can guarantee safety of their children and many are aware of the documented cases of abuse which has occurred at the school.

The school's policy of supplying tobacco to a student, sitting on students to restrain them, calling the Police when Autistics are having an episode, threatening students with violence and allowing students to be sexually assaulted by other students and staff all cause Moon's complete failure in this area.

Staff Welfare, Development and Management
Another important area and another complete failure for Moon. During Moon's time as principal the number of workers compensation claims has skyrocketed. The culture of the school is poisonous, with there being obvious divisions and a pack mentality among some staff. The school's decision making is seen as autocratic and most staff are unaware of their obligations under the Code of Conduct.

Staff such as Auld and Luther should have been placed on improvement programs but have not, causing students to suffer.

Physical and Financial Resource Management
This is another area that Moon has done poorly on. He has allowed for school funds to be diverted to programs such as RDA and the Therapy Farm without consulting with Finance. Some individual class budgets ran out last year and resources are wasted on programs that benefit only a small number of students.

School and Community Partnerships
No principal at Carenne will ever come close to Terry Mahony in this area. Terry was able to forge relationships between Carenne and almost anyone. Under Neil Moon, the views of parents and the school community are seen as unimportant, support for the P&C has been minimal and the perception of the school in the community has been mediocre.

It's time that Peter Harvey does what parents and students expect and deserve and take action against Neil Moon.

Corrupt and incompetent driver becomes Carenne's music teacher

Steve Minshull, the corrupt and incompetent bus driver for the Blayney run has become Carenne's new music teacher. Mr Minshull has a long association with the Carenne KLAN, with Simone Russell conspiring with him to defraud the Special Needs Transport Service and a personal friendship with Ros Luther.

Carenne klansmen turned whistleblower nedkelly told Carenne Gate that she was very worried about Mr Minshull being the school's new music teacher. "This is a f---whit who had a kid taken off his bus because he assaulted him in the corridor of the school. Neil Moon is a f---whit for making him the music teacher," said nedkelly.

A parent with a student on his bus also questioned the move. "I can't understand how someone who drives with a student in the front seat leaning over him can possibly receive a job at the school, Steve is overly familiar with some students its not right. When I raised this with Neil Moon I was told to stop being a drama queen," said the parent.

Carenne Gate has learned that besides working at Carenne on Tuesdays, Steve also offers lessons at Millthorpe Public School. It is disturbing that such a person is even allowed around children given his past history.

Neil Moon keeps it in the family

The principal of the embattled Carenne Special School has been accused of further nepotism despite staunch criticism about it in the past. Carenne Gate has learned that Moon employed Doug Rowe, husband of teacher's aide Margaret Rowe as a General Assistant to help move furniture at the school.

Carenne Special School has a history of nepotism with Janelle Kemp being related to Laurie Clifford, Lyn Duncan employing her husband Steve Duncan, Anne Baskerville's partner Lee Graham being given work and Brian and Nathan Carter working at the school.

One of the Carenne whistleblowers told Carenne Gate that Neil Moon is too paranoid to employ other people. "Neil is more paranoid this year than ever, he will only employ people who will keep the secrets in the school," said the whistleblower.

It shows that despite the massive issues surrounding Carenne that Neil Moon continues with his stupidity.

Carenne's temporary executive, a family affair

With the absence of Terry Neal and Neil Moon who are both taking leave and Lee Churches due to illness only one member of the school's ordinary executive remains - Louise Smith. Due to the absences, the school has two staff who are assistant principals in a relieving capacity.

Laurie Healey has been appointed to relieve Terry Neal's executive position to the end of term and Janelle Kemp has been appointed to relieve Lee Churches' executive position until she returns.

Staff at the school are concerned about the relieving assistant principal appointment process due to Janelle Kemp being a close friend of Louise Smith's and Laurie Healey's aunt.

Barracus told Carenne Gate that Janelle Kemp and Laurie Healey were both inexperienced and were incapable of performing a management role. "Janelle has only had special ed qualifications for about two years, she got the teaching position initially because she had a disabled son and was a friend of Louise Smith's from Eglinton school,"

"Janelle was part of the corrupt merit selection last year that Lyn and Lee rigged, the job was all fixed up before the interviews, there is a secret list on who will be appointed to the next permanent position at the school and it is always followed."

Barracus was also scathing of Miss Healey and her position at the school. "Laurie is another one whos job was fixed up, it was preplanned that she would get a permanent position. She hasn't been a teacher all that long and there have been serious concerns about her conduct around teenage boys, she dresses inappropriately for work and is over-familiar with some. That is why she has a mostly female class now,"

"I couldn't believe it at the end of last term when Neil Moon said she would be relieving for Terry Neal, she has minimal teaching experience and from what I hear even had a history of issues at Bathurst West, why would you place her in an executive position?"

A number of staff have said they are concerned that of the present three executives at the school, two are related and the only non-relative is a close friend of one of the others. Staff have also complained about Janelle Kemp performing the principal's job today, believing that Louise Smith would have been the most appropriate person to fill the role, as she has executive experience.

"The school is becoming an even bigger joke every day because of the complete stupidity of allowing someone as inexperienced as Janelle Kemp lead the school," said whistleblower Gretel.

Jobs for the family continue at Carenne

Carenne Gate has learned that the nepotistic staffing practices which have been heavily criticised on this blog continue to be used at Carenne Special School in Bathurst. It is these staffing practices which we believe are in part responsible for the continued cover-ups at Carenne.

Recently, Carenne has employeed Carly Sewell, daughter of relief aide Sue Sewell and financial supporter and TAFE teacher Bill Sewell.

The Sewell family has been involved in Carenne for some time. Bill Sewell, former owner of a pet shop in Bathurst provided a great deal of financial and moral support to the school, which is known to engage in corrupt and deceptive fundraising practices, such as the bus appeal where a number of donors were clearly misled.

Sue Sewell's sister, Dianne Poole is employed by the department in a consultancy position at the Bathurst district office. This combined with the former financial support Bill gave the school give Sue preferential aide status at the school.

The close relationship between Carenne and the Sewell family was shown in Michael Auld's recent newsletter piece, where Auld wrote -

"Daniel is going very well Tafe in his Animal Care Course. Bill Sewell - who once owned Bill's Pet Paradise - is an excellent teacher and Daniel looks forward to his classes."

Staff claim that they have never seen such blatant favourtism towards a TAFE teacher and believe it shows exactly why Sue and Carly are working at Carenne.

Carenne Support puts teacher/parent before others again

One of Carenne Special School's newest whistleblowers "Karachi" has claimed that Janelle Kemp, a teacher at Carenne who received a permanent appointment under suspicious circumstances (much like her niece who also teaches at Carenne) was given special treatment by Carenne Support when it purchased a walker for her son valued at $6,200 last year.

Karachi claims that this purchase, authorised by Carenne Support CEO and director at the time Christine Porter took precedence over students who had been waiting for equipment for much longer with one student's equipment needs being valued at $800 still not being purchased due to the student's parents not being popular with Ms Porter.

Janelle Kemp first came to Carenne Gate's attention when it was revealed that she had been given special transport assistance through Carenne Support while a parent who lived out of town had been refused.

Terry Neal labels Carenne staff as gossipers

In an email between Terry Neal and Peter Harvey discussing Prue Luffman's situation, Terry Neal has admitted to telling Mrs Luffman that female Carenne staff are gossipers.

In the email, Mr Neal says -

I also told her that she was working in an environment with significant female colleagues and that may at times, lead to other females noticing what may, or may not, be happening and the potential to spread gossip.

The conversation came about when Mrs Luffman approached Mr Neal about a female Carenne staff member (believed to be Margaret Rowe, but not named in the email) at a local hotel who accused her of inappropriate behaviour around another staff member. Mrs Luffman didn't tell Mr Neal who the person was and Mr Neal provided advice on dealing with the matter.

During Mrs Luffman's employment at Carenne she was subject to a complaint by the teacher of her class Nadine Dwyer, according to the email.

The email also mentions the employment arrangement between Carenne and Mrs Luffman during 2009. Mrs Luffman has claimed that she was promised full-time work past the end of the year, yet according to Mr Neal he told Mrs Luffman and the class teacher Mrs Dwyer that the class was temporary and may or may not be extended at the end of the year.

Hatho claims that Mr Neal is lying about this as it was Lyn Duncan who gave Mrs Luffman and Mrs Dwyer the jobs and she overheard a conversation between the trio where Mrs Duncan told them the job was temporary to begin with but would become permanent next year at which time Mrs Duncan and Miss Churches would ensure Luffman and Dwyer got through the merit selection process.

When the class was extended Mr Neal claims that the school executive decided to fill the positions by merit selection. Hatho claims that Mrs Luffman went on stress leave due to marriage difficulties and to get back at Carenne for offering her no further full-time work.

Nepotistic staffing continues at Carenne Special School

Over the past several months, allegations about nepotism in staffing at Carenne Special School and the failure to follow merit selection procedures has surfaced. These claims have been been strengthened by the appointment of Karina Mollenkamp and Yvette Smith to permanent teacher's aide positions.

The appointment came as no surprise, on February 7 it was posted on this blog that these two aides would be given permanent positions, before the interviews were even held. Carenne Special School staff were not at all surprised when it was announced yesterday that they would be taking up permanent positions after being successful in the interview process.

Staff claim that Lee Churches told them that the selection process had already been sewn up, as her and the executive wanted Molenkamp and Smith because they can be trusted. Molenkamp is a close friend to a number of staff at Carenne Special School, which is how she got the casual job there to begin with. Smith is a close friend of two members of the Carenne Special School executive.

Staff believe that both aides were not the best choice for the job, claiming they have less skills and experience than other candidates. They claim it is yet another example of Carenne Nepotism.

Another Indymedia claim comes true - Minshull looked after by Carenne Support

In what is clearly a case of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours", Carenne Support has employed former Capebase driver Steven Minshull to look after its vehicles.

Minshull was accused on this website of conspiring with Simone Russell to defraud the department to maximise payment to his employer.

Despite claims by Carenne Support representatives and the Carenne Special School executive that everything on Sydney Indymedia and Carenne Gate are lies, rubbish or rot; it appears that yet another claim made by a Carenne Saviour has come true.

On September 19th 2009, savecarenne wrote:

"What about this new deal Steve the bus driver and Ros have so that a new student
in her class will travel to and from school on his bus so he still has a bus driving job
at the end of the year. Carenne Support's bus could do the job with ease, but instead
of doing what makes sense they are looking after their friend. I wouldn't be surprised
if Steve loses a run that Carenne would give him a job maybe on one of their own
buses."

It would appear that despite this arrangement not going ahead (possibly due to being publicly exposed) that Carenne Support has scratched its mate's back for him, ensuring he still has a job.

UPDATE: Mary Housler, Carenne Support's book keeper has admitted that a position was offered to Mr Minshull by Christine Porter and herself but was refused by him the next day after he took a copy of the contract. Mary also admits she told staff that Steve would be working as a bus escort the following Monday and alternate arrangements have been made now that he has refused Carenne Support's offer.

Staffing under the spotlight

For a while now there has been comments made about staffing practices at the Carenne Special School. A number of staff have raised concern about how family and friends take precedence over more skilled staff.

The current concern is centred around Doug Rowe, husband of teacher's aide Margaret (and member of the Carenne Klan) who has been maneuvering to stop the school's former groundsperson from returning to his position. Mr Rowe was given the position by Lynette Duncan after the groundsman went on sick leave in mid-2009. Staff complained at the time that there were more suitable people for the position and that the decision had only been made to strengthen the influence of the Carenne Klan.

Earlier in the year, Mrs Duncan came under scrutiny when she employed her own husband to relieve for the school's administration manager when she went on sick leave. Staff believed it to be inappropriate for the principal's husband to be employed in such a position.

The problem goes back far further than Mrs Duncan's principalship. In the past, staff claim that they have complained about the employment of casuals who are related to or friends with one and another and promotions based on friendship and loyalty. Many staff have made the charge that the merit selection process at Carenne Special School has been rigged to produce a particular outcome, as with that earlier in 2009.

Staff allege that most casual staffing decisions are made by Simone Russell and Lee Churches, bypassing the principal, despite this being usual procedure.

It is time the Department of Education and Training has a close look at the farce that is staffing at Carenne Special School. It is a key tenet of public employment that appointments are to be based upon merit, staffing at Carenne Special School is instead based on nepocracy.

UPDATE: It has been revealed that Simone Russell, who has been accused on both this site and Sydney Indymedia of dishonest practices will be moving into a Student Learning Support Officer (teacher's aide) position this year after she trains her replacement School Administration Manager. The reasons for such a move are unknown at present.

Corrupt teacher assists in selecting new Principal

The assistant principal at the centre of bullying, harassment and corruption claims has been allowed to be a part of the selection panel for the principal's position created by the departure of Lynette Duncan.

Complaints had been made to the Department of Education and Training about how Lee Churches would be biased towards/against candidates in order to cement her and the Carenne Klan's authority over the school. Miss Churches had indicated to a number of staff that current relieving principal, Terry Neal had no chance of getting the job if she was on the panel.

It is not the first time this assistant principal has used her influence on an interview panel to achieve a particular result, earlier this year she deliberately stacked a panel so that a particular candidate would get the job. She told one of the Carenne Saviours "I don't know why we are having interviews, ******* is going to get the job anyway."

It appears that the Department of Education and Training is more interested in protecting their Klan at Carenne Special School than dealing with major issues.

School principal defies the advice of her education minister over re-employment

Posted July 5th, 2009 by jules85 on Sydney Indymedia

The principal of the Carenne Special School - Mrs Lynette Duncan has dealt another blow to Brian Carter, a former employee of both the school and its attached charity. The blow comes in direct defiance of advice of the Minister of Education and Training.

Mr Carter was allegedly unfairly dismissed from bus driving for Carenne Support Ltd, a charity attached to the Carenne Special School in December, 2008 in a cover-up over a behaviour management plan for a student implemented and supported by former principal Terrence Mahony.

Under the plan, Mr Carter would take an 18 year old male student to Lithgow and back on the bus once per week in return for the student behaving himself. As it was a special student transport bus, an escort was on duty on the vehicle. The plan, implemented under the guidance of Mr Mahony and the student's teacher was later used by two teacher's aides with a vendetta against Mr Carter. It is believed that the plan was against policy and the two aides threatened to blow the whistle on the principal unless Mr Carter was dismissed.

When advised of his dismissal from bus driving duties, Mr Carter informed Mr Mahony (who is also the Managing Director of Carenne Support) that he would take action against Carenne Support in the Industrial Relations Commission. Mr Mahony told Mr Carter that such action would ban him from being on the grounds of Carenne Public School - terminating Mr Carter's employment at the school.

After months of the Department of Education and Training dodging the question of Mr Carter's employment status, Dr John Kaye, Greens MLC took the cause to the floor of the Legislative Council and placed a number of questions on notice to the education minister.

The minister answered Dr John Kaye's questions - stating that Mr Carter remained on the list of people who may be employed at Carenne Public School.

Mr Carter met with Mrs Duncan in June where she advised she would need to check on his status. When Mr Carter asked Mrs Duncan to return to work at Carenne Public School on Friday, Mrs Duncan refused. The reasons given were Mr Carter's pending court case (against Carenne Support Ltd) and the school being at capacity in terms of staff.

Mrs Duncan's refusal is in complete defiance of the education minister and is unlawful. Mrs Duncan's actions are an example of victimisation for taking action against Carenne Support.

Carenne Support is operated similarily to a parents and citizens association and funds its school support services through a $15,000 per month contract with the department for special student transport services. Despite Carenne Support being an external contractor it weilds a great amount of power within Carenne Special School and the Department of Education and Training. A member of the school executive and Mr Mahony are directors of the company. Mr Mahony was a director whilst also principal and often authorised payment to the company.

Mrs Duncan's actions are clearly influenced by this power.

The education minister must now act against Mrs Duncan and terminate her employment immediately for defying her authority and allowing herself to be influenced by Carenne Support's generosity to Carenne Special School.

Mrs Duncan failed to respond to my requests for an interview.

School-based organisations given special treatment under the Special Needs Transport Service

Posted August 10th, 2009 by jules85 on Sydney Indymedia

School-based organisations such as TRAILS Incorporated at Holroyd School in Merrylands and Carenne Support Limited at Carenne School in Bathurst are being given special treatment under the Special Needs Transport Service administered by the Department of Education and Training.

Under the service, students with special needs are transported to and from school at the department's expense. According to their 2008 annual report, the department provided 10,772 students with transport utilising 588 contractors. Contracts are meant to be awarded on a tender basis, but a Sydney-based contractor says that many contractors weren't informed about upcoming contracts and they were instead awarded to TRAILS.

"I used to have a few runs into Holroyd but it soom became obvious that they wanted to oust me for the school's own buses, they are never tendered and now I only have my runs elsewhere" said the contractor who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retribution.

School-based organisations have a strategic advantage over ordinary contractors as they have access to the department's Special Transport Management System which gives them an overview of transport runs into a particular school. Gail Vasic who manages the SNTS told us that schools have had access since 2007 so as to "improve processes at the school level". This may allow principals (who often serve on the board of directors of these school-based organisations) to make suggestions on how to improve the "efficiency" of transport services into and out of their own school. Often these suggestions include consolidating runs into a larger bus purchased specifically for this purpose by the school-based organisation.

This issue raises an important issue - if tenders aren't being put out how can the best contractor at the best price be chosen? Why are these school-based organisations given precedence? and why has this been allowed to continue?

Carenne Special School staff speak out

Originally published on Sydney Indymedia - 25 August 2009

I was fortunate to be invited to a meeting at the weekend where a group of four passionate educators met to discuss how to "save their school" following a mass of issues which the school executive, district office and the Employee Performance and Conduct Unit has refused to act upon. The group claims that the department is more interested in protecting a select few than fixing major problems.

The group contacted me asking if I would be interested in reporting on aspects of the meeting after discovering articles on Indymedia about their school. The only condition attached - complete anonymity.

After a three hour trip West of the Blue Mountains, I arrived in Bathurst and made my way to the restaurant where the group told me to meet them. I waited outside for a short time, wondering if my new found friends were going to show up or if I had been stood up.

After a while, a nervous looking woman came out and inquired "Are you Miss Brown?"

I responded "Yes" and followed the woman into the restaurant where the group was sitting. All four of those in attendance appeared jittery and nervous and every time the front door closed they were looking, making sure it wasn't someone they knew. One of the group told me "We are taking a huge risk by meeting here tonight, our careers will be over if anyone finds out."

Another said "you must realise that the only real opportunity for special education teachers and aides in Bathurst is Carenne."

It was immediately apparent the fear and apprehension that these people were feeling. They had taken a big step simply meeting in public, let alone with a journalist. At any time, Bathurst being the small town it is, someone they knew could walk in and see what was happening.

The group told me that they had been making complaints about Carenne for years, particularly about those close to the school executive who engage in misconduct. The group alleges that some of its members reported the relationship between a teacher and student only to be told they were "being stupid" and fobbed off by former school principal Jock Roxborough. Following the report, they claim they were harassed by an assistant principal and her close associates for being trouble-makers.

The group alleges that despite them reporting it well before the department investigation, they have never been asked to make a statement for the unfair dismissal or civil cases. They claim the department has only asked those who will collude and lie to provide statements supporting its defence into the relationship.

In October 2008, the group became concerned about an incident involving a bus escort and a student. They reported it to then principal Terry Mahony and were then subject to a number of attacks by the escort. When the escort began harassing parents at home after hours, the group decided it would begin writing complaints to sections of the department using an alias.

During our meeting, the group expressed astonishment at what they called the "gullibility" of the education department. With court cases surrounding the student sex affair and the unfair dismissal of Brian Carter involving the same people, the group can not believe the department continues to protect those involved. Because of this protection, those who are involved are able to target anyone they wish.

The group told me that there was a major crisis at the school, with staff being plotted against, harassed and setup. They said they no longer had anywhere to turn with Peter Harvey the local School Education Director doing nothing and the Employee Performance and Conduct Unit interested in finding out who is complaining rather than investigating the matters.

One of the group said "Peter Harvey showed his true colours on Wednesday, he has no interest in solving problems. He just wants the problems to go away,"

"He knows who sent letters and what-not and he was there denying that they came from the school."

Some of the matters complained about by the group are :-

* Breaches of the department's duty of care to students. They allege that in June a student got access to medication which was left unlocked in a teacher's desk and overdosed requiring a visit to the hospital which the school executive attempted to cover-up until it was exposed to the School Education Director.
* Threats of violence and defamatory remarks. Staff speak about how they would like to cause serious harm to whistleblower Brian Carter and student sex victim David Withyman for causing trouble for the school. Members of the school executive often join in or laugh at the comments.
* Nepotism in staffing. The principal's husband is given office work and a teachers aide's husband has been given the groundsman's position.
* Setups. An assistant principal has bragged about planting evidence and spooked staff about one of his theories in order to have another member of staff dismissed and items have been stolen from a teacher so that other's enemies are implicated in the theft.
* Access to information held by NSW Police. Due to a relationship between a Police officer and a school staff member, information held by Police has been leaked to the school.
* Letters sent by staff to set others up. The group has identified to the department who is sending anonymous letters complaining about school staff, which often are sent by those who the letter complains about in order to set someone else up.
* Circumventing legislation. They claim they were told by the principal not to refer to certain people in documents and instead use pseudonyms so they can't access them under Freedom of Information legislation.


The group says because of this they must regrettably take their cause public and expose what is happening at the school.