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Complaint to BoM

  • 24-02-2015 9:01pm
    #1
    Administrators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 14,907 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭


    When making a complaint to the BoM, should all correspondence to and from the principal be included? Would the principal's permission be needed to forward copies of correspondence from him to the BoM as part of the complaint? For example to show that a complaint has already been made to the principal, and a copy of the complaint and reply are attached.


Comments

  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,514 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    I'm no expert , but I think I would address the complaint to the chair of the BOM, in line with agreed procedure .
    http://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Information/Complaints-Bullying-Child-Protection-Discrimination/Complaints-Procedures.pdf
    I would outline that you have been in communication with the principal , but not include any correspondence at that stage.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,105 ✭✭✭ectoraige


    You would be under no confidentiality agreement concerning your correspondence with the principal. If you wish to submit any or all of it, it is within your right to do so. The only real restriction is that the BoM itself cannot share correspondence it receives without permission from other parties. I would also make sure the board adhere strongly to the timelines for investigating your complaint - failure to do so can leave room for any decision to be challenged on the grounds the investigation wasn't conducted correctly.

    IANAL.


  • Administrators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 14,907 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Big Bag of Chips


    The principal could be a politician, he completely sidestepped the issue and answered everything except what I asked. I forwarded much the same complaint to the chairman of the board (new priest in the parish) and got back what I know to be a dictated letter from the principal... At one stage being told the principal "refutes" my claim that he said something. Even though it was said at a Parents Association meeting with witnesses.

    What do you do when the board just gives the same reply as the principal, because the principal is the one who formulates the reply?! And what do you do when you are called a liar?


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,514 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    "Can anybody else investigate my complaint?

    In accordance with the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children provides an independent and impartial complaint handling service. Under section 9 of the Act, the Ombudsman for Children can investigate complaints relating to the administrative actions of a school recognised by the Department of Education and Skills provided the complainant has firstly and fully followed the school’s complaints procedures. The key criterion for any intervention by the Ombudsman for Children is that the action complained of has or may have adversely affected the child.

    More information about the Ombudsman for Children can be obtained on www.oco.ie "

    http://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Information/Complaints-Bullying-Child-Protection-Discrimination/Parental-Complaints.html


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,105 ✭✭✭ectoraige


    Just to note, the Ombudsman for Children doesn't have power to make a decision on the actual complaint, only on whether the complaint was investigated correctly. So you'll want to focus on how the investigation is being handled. They also won't investigate if they don't feel there'll be any material difference.

    We had the farcical case where we ended up having to remove our children from the school in question and enrol them in a Catholic school instead. When we finally got as far as the Ombudsman they declined to investigate as our children are no longer in the school!

    At the moment there's little oversight of Boards, it's a major failing of the system. There is legislation in the pipeline to allow the teaching council to investigate complaints, but it seems to be moving at a glacial pace. "Before the end of the year" seems to be the timeline on that.


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  • Administrators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 14,907 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Big Bag of Chips


    It's not a situation that adversely affects the children though. It is more an administrative/money related complaint, and one that I have already been told by the DES that the school should not be doing.

    It's farcical really, the reply I got from the board is almost word for word the reply I got from the principal.

    I suppose next step is a letter to the DES?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 2,503 Mod ✭✭✭✭dambarude


    It's not a situation that adversely affects the children though. It is more an administrative/money related complaint, and one that I have already been told by the DES that the school should not be doing.

    It's farcical really, the reply I got from the board is almost word for word the reply I got from the principal.

    I suppose next step is a letter to the DES?
    The DES seem to take anything related to admin/money very seriously, particularly if it relates to school numbers/capitation/teacher numbers.

    If you feel confident in your position, you're probably correct to refer it to DES. Don't be surprised if an inspector comes calling on a drive-by!


  • Administrators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 14,907 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Big Bag of Chips


    Well, before I escalated the complaint to the Board I did contact the DES unofficially just to ask if I had a legitimate complaint. I explained the circumstances and was told under no circumstances should the school be doing what they are doing... I'm trying to not give too much detail!

    So I received an "in conclusion" letter from the Board, which as I said sidestepped the actual issue and went on to explain some things irrelevant to my complaint. I am going to send back one last correspondence to the board saying that I accept their letter as their final word on the issue, but as my specific complaint was not actually answered that I will be forwarding a complaint to the DES enclosing all correspondence with the school and board.


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