The teachers at Claver College Extension have been re-instated and their evening classes resume as per normal. That is the outcome from yesterday's board meeting. We have been following this story closely since nine out of eleven teachers were fired in late September. This is because the teachers did not sign a new stipend system contract presented by the board. The new contract states that the teachers be paid every two months and the teachers were not in agreement with that - they want to get paid every month. So that difference led to a teacher sick out, the hiring of new teachers, and to days of protest where the students refused to attend classes with the new teachers. This has been ongoing for two weeks - with the board and teachers not being able to come to a resolution. Well, some individual members of the board - who were silent or inactive throughout this entire ordeal, showed up last night to put this matter away. Courtney Weatherburne was in Punta Gorda and has more on what happened at the school.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Claver College Extension's wrought iron gate was closed for most of the evening - behind it were seven of the schools' board members.
Beyond it, were the faithful students -some standing, others sitting - patiently waiting for the outcome of the board meeting - a routine they have become accustomed to for the past week.
Yesterday evening, the students had the company of a handful of cops - an added prop to this drama series.
But apart from the crowd's chants...
CHANTS:
"We want our teachers back."
Everything remained calm into the night. The only action was when the school's chairperson Lisel Alamilla walked out of the board meeting...hopped into her truck and …drove off without a word to anyone.
But finally, at around 6:30, a board member emerged and addressed the crowd - calling everyone back into the classrooms.
And after two weeks, the original teachers and their students cheerfully mounted the stairs - a rare show of eagerness and excitement to return to school.
Just like that, the students settled in their classrooms and it was business as usual at Claver College Extension.
Dave Foreman, Director, CCE
"The board of governors met and they decided that it is urgent that the students return to classes tonight and so they are here, the teachers are here and so classes resume as normal."
While the issue has been settled for now, the students have a demand going forward.
Juan Caal, Student
"We want to be a part of that decision process where when decision are made we have a say because we represent 85 percent of the stakeholders within the institution."
"So why are we being treated as kids as opposed to be treated as adults and as adults we have every right to sit on that board."
"I think for once we are standing up to solve an issue that will not be repeated in the near future."
Now while the issue is resolved for the original teachers, what happens to the new teachers that were hired? And will the original teachers who were re-instated be paid monthly as they are demanding? Well there are no clear answers for those questions tonight. We called the director, Dave Foreman, and he said the board have to meet by the end of this week or early next week to discuss all these concerns. As for chairperson Lisel Alamilla, she told us via text that she will resign but she has not released any official statement as yet.
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