Saying they have received no response from church leaders, a group of St. Ignatius Catholic School parents have taken their concerns about school governance to the Cayman Islands government.
The ‘HSA Parents’ Governance and Transparency Sub-Committee’ has posted on its website a letter dated 6 Oct. and addressed to the Archdiocese of Detroit (which oversees the St. Ignatius parish), local church leaders, and members of the School Advisory Committee and Home School Association:
“We do not understand the continued non-engagement by the [Archdiocese], the administrator [Naveen D’Souza] and the parish of St Ignatius despite the sub-committee’s multiple communications and its representation of over 450 parents of our school (as evidenced by the petition signatures sent to you).
“We now feel we have no option but to approach the Cayman Islands government and regulatory authorities for a viable solution to the inadequate impasse we find the school in. We have already formally contacted the Ministry of Education and the General Registry (NPO) for assistance.
“The complete absence of any communication has greatly compounded the unease and disquiet within the school community of parents and teachers.”
The sub-committee was formed after concerns were raised by St. Ignatius parents about changes to the School Advisory Board (now the School Advisory Committee) and the resignation of the Head of School Emily Alexander. Since then the Cayman Compass reported that the church (and school) had been remiss in filing annual updates with the Non-Profit Registrar.
The group’s new letter states that “our concerns are being treated as trivial by the Archdiocese of Detroit and the pastor” and “Issues within the school and faculty are worsening by the week”.
The letter concludes with a list of more than two-dozen concerns, including:
- “Increasing number of [staff[ resignations: 7 confirmed and 2 additional allegedly”
“Confusion around the [$5 million] Sports Hall, is it stopped or moving forward?”
“Health insurance change without consultation with the School or assistance from professionals”
“Due to the lack of teachers, almost the entire maths department in the high school has now resigned.”
“Almost the entire languages department in the high school has also now resigned.”
The letter also raises ‘rumours’ that should be addressed, including if the school is being investigated by governmental authorities such as the Ombudsman, Ministry of Education, Department of Labour and Pensions, and Health Commission.
For previous reporting by the Current on this topic, read these stories:
St. Ignatius parents launch transparency group, petition
St. Ignatius parents concerned over Head of School’s resignation, school board changes
*Disclosure: Cayman Current editor Patrick Brendel’s spouse is a member of the St. Ignatius Parish Pastoral Council. Three of their children attend St. Ignatius Catholic School.*