BUGALLON—It was the classic ultimatum  – “It’s her or us” – that rocked an elementary school here on school opening day last week. And the majority won.

After their parents greeted the opening of school on June 15 with a rally against the school principal, some 700 pupils of the Buenlag Elementary School here eventually went to school the next day.

The parents finally let their children attend classes after they were assured that the school principal, Perla Sampaga, whom they have accused of irregularities, will not be reporting back just yet.

Alicia Padua, the district school supervisor of Bugallon, has temporarily assumed the post of Sampaga until after an investigation on the complaints is completed.

Padua was sent to Buenlag Elementary School by Pangasinan I Divison Superintendent Aurora Domingo to ease the tension after parents barricaded the school premises and refused to let their children to go to school.

“We will stay here till Sampaga is booted out as principal,” one of the parents, Rose Reyes, had told a group of newsmen who covered the rally in the morning of June 15.

At that time, all the 13 school personnel, except Sampaga, were inside the school compound. Only two pupils were inside the school as the rest were outside the gate with their parents staging the rally.

Reyes claimed life in Barangay Buenlag was “no longer normal” since Sampaga reported as principal in August last year.

What appeared to be the most serious complaint raised by parents was the collection of P60 last March from each of the graduating pupils in Grade VI and kindergarten purportedly as rental for a new toga.

The togas arrived on March 29, a day before the graduation exercises, and to the consternation of the parents, the togas were old, unwashed, in different colors, and there were not enough for all graduates.

The parents protested but could not stop the graduation exercises scheduled the next day.

Jean Ochoco, another protesting parent, confirmed it was the collection and the toga issue that angered the parents.

The protesting parents threatened they would transfer their children to another school if Department of Education chooses to retain Sampaga. –LM

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