Elementary school principal refuses transfer
THE principal of West Central Elementary School (WCES) in Dagupan City refuses to budge from his post despite a standing order from the schools superintendent.
Dr. Gloria Torres, schools division superintendent, already issued her second order dated June 17 for the transfer of assignment of Dr. Reynardo Barrozo, principal IV, from WCES to East Central Integrated School.
In her second order, Torres cited that the first reassignment order was issued and received by Barrozo on June 13and gave warning that “legal action” will be taken against him if he continues to defy the transfer.
“In view hereof you are hereby ordered to vacate West Central Elementary School today to give way to the duly assigned Principal IV, Mrs. Emelia S. Galsim to carry out her functions,” said Torres in her order.
Torres insists that a principal’s maximum stay in a school should be five years based on DepEd policy.
LEGAL BASIS
For his part, Barrozo, who has been principal of WCES for eight years, asserts that he has a contract with the Department of Education (DepEd) as basis for staying on until 2014.
“I have valid ground to refuse to be transferred,” he said.
Department of Education Director IV Marilyn Dimaano sent a letter to Torres dated June 14 saying that Barrozo was a recipient of the DepEd Scholarship Program and it is stipulated in his training contract that he is expected to serve his school for two years after each term of training,
The scholarship was for the Organization, Administration and Supervision of Special Education (OAS-SPED) held at the Philippine Normal University from April to May 2009 for the first term and August to October 2009 for the 2nd term.
Attached in the letter is DepEd Order No. 53, s 2008, which stipulates the Guidelines on the Maximization of Trained Teachers and Administrators in Special Education.
Dimaano requested Torres in the letter to defer the transfer of Barrozo to allow him to implement his Three-Year Development Plan in his school.
Messages asking that Barrozo be retained as school principal of WCES allegedly from the Parents-Teachers Community Association are hung at the school fence.
Barrozo said he stands firm in staying at the school and is ready to face whatever legal actions are taken against him.
WCES has more than 70 teachers and a school population of 2,806 pupils.
With the impasse, WCES currently has two school principals with Barrozo still reporting at his office while Galsim reports at the nearby schools division office.
Barrozo said he is still the one issuing orders to WCES teachers and work is uninterrupted.
A similar move to oust Barrozo from his post was undertaken last year.—Eva Visperas
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