MONTEGO BAY, St James —A temporary teacher at St James High School, whose service was terminated ahead of the new school term, is crying foul.

The teacher claims that the proper process was not followed by the school, but the principal, Joseph Williams, doesn’t agree.

In a letter, under the signature of Williams and dated June 24, the teacher, Tiana Taylor, was thanked for her service at St James High. However, the letter noted that her tenure would expire on August 31 as a result of her performance evaluation being rated as unsatisfactory. The letter, which had on it the name of the board chairman, Christopher McCurdy, did not have his signature affixed.

Despite receiving the letter, Taylor is of the view that the correct process was not followed by the principal.

“That was done illegally because the due process was not followed in terms of my dismissal. So I went to work on Monday and signed [the teacher’s register]. I went back yesterday and signed and now, today, [Wednesday], as soon as I entered the gate, I was told [verbally] that there is a standing order against me not to enter the compound,” said Taylor.

Taylor, who taught at the institution for a year, is also of the view that due process was not followed because she was not evaluated or appraised each term as a new teacher.

“I had no previous communications with them regarding performance or anything. It was just at the end of June that I got this letter, and when I asked for a copy of the evaluation that the letter speaks about, I was told on that same day to fill out one and grade myself by my supervisor and I refused. I told her, no, that is not how it goes,” related Taylor.

Since then, Taylor said that she has been to the Ministry of Education and officers there said that they are not aware of her being dismissed because they do not have a letter indicating such.

She also said the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and her lawyer, Jody White, have been informed of the case.

Three other teachers whose services came to an end similarly have reportedly received employment at other schools in the parish.

When the Jamaica Observer reached out to the St James High principal he indicated that Taylor was not wrongfully dismissed, arguing that she was temporarily employed and under an evaluation process which turned out to be unsatisfactory.

Williams said that for temporary teachers the process does not have to go through the board but the administration that does the evaluation and determines if the individual continues.

According to him, the documented proper channel includes an assessment by the head of the department and the vice-principal with the principal’s input. He said the written document is then presented to the teacher for perusal and signature. He said some refused to sign.

Regarding the absence of the board chairman’s signature from the termination letter, Williams said McCurdy himself would have to address that matter.

For his part, McCurdy said he received four letters requesting his signature. He said the letters indicated that the services of the four teachers would no longer be required based on their evaluation which came out unsatisfactory.

“As a board, it is not our responsibility to deal with the day-to-day operations of St James High. It is the purview of the administration led by the principal. However, the board always provide oversight and signed off on these documents.”

Schedule D, Section (i) of the Education Code of Regulations 1980 says the principal’s duty is to recommend to the school board the appointment and promotion of members of staff and the demotion or dismissal of such persons whose work or attitude is unsatisfactory, but only after warning the member of staff in writing, giving guidance and assistance, and allowing a reasonable time for improvement.

Besides, before any proceedings can begin, this section of the code will have to be adhered to or a principal can be accused of neglect of duty, the code says.