Support staff at CedarBridge Academy have called for the "expulsion" of the school's board of governors after two more managers were sacked.

Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts manager Emilygail Dill, and controller Ivan Broadbelt were both fired on Friday.

The school is currently entangled in court proceedings after information technology manager Bussie Ible was sacked on May 3.

He was fired hours after a court order was granted to prevent the board from dismissing any of the school's managers.

The managers had refused to sign controversial contracts that said they could be fired at any time.

George Scott, of the Bermuda Industrial Union, serves as board chairman. His deputy is Government Whip Lovitta Foggo. Other members include CedarBridge principal Kalmar Richards and the school's head of human resources, Linda Franks.

On board member who didn't want to be named said the board is steadfast in its commitment to ensure that the interest of CedarBridge, that is, staff and students alike, are first and foremost. As stated in a previous news article in response to claims of heavy handedness, there have been no examples of such given and no grievances made to counter such.

Mr. Scott said yesterday: "There are no formal grievances that the board is aware of at this time. I, George Scott, have been the chairman of the CedarBridge and there have been no industrial workers terminated. I have made sure that everything has been done in accordance with the collective agreement."

The support staff are represented by the Bermuda Public Service Union (BPSU).

Union president Armell Thomas and CedarBridge staff member Virginia Bean spoke on their behalf at a press conference yesterday "From our viewpoint the board is not looking at the best interest of the students and staff of this facility," Mrs. Bean said. "We have tried our best to resolve these issues amicably but without results. It seems that when we speak out about something they come back with punitive action."

Mrs. Bean said the managers were fired on "trumped-up" charges.

"No prior disciplinary action was ever taken against the managers.

"They have not been given the opportunity to answer to the purported allegations as stated in their termination letters."

To resolve the situation, the support staff is now looking for:

the expulsion of the current board

meaningful talks with the board and the Ministry of Education with an eye to an amicable resolution of concerns; [EmDash] persons being able to be represented by the bargaining agent of their choice;

Mr. Ible to be rehired.

Mrs. Bean cited various concerns with the board of governors including mould problems in 2007 and changes of job descriptions.

"Managers are unable to run their departments including [the] chief operations officer. They are being micromanaged by the board. Everything they do has to go through the board first, sometimes causing prolonged delays in the daily operations of the school."

Added Mr. Thomas: "They are very, very angry and disappointed. It seems like the board doesn't care about the laws. It's very important that we talk. We have been very clean about this whole mess at CedarBridge. It's now time to take action."

Mr. Scott has served as board chairman for two terms the fist in 1999 for three years and from 2004 until present.

It has been claimed that he has been chairman longer than the Education Act allows.

Asked about Mr. Scott's tenure on the board, Mr. Thomas said: "That was one of our main concerns as to why we wanted to have an inquiry. He's making decisions and they're not valid. He must be getting some kind of advice from a higher party than us."

But Mr. Scott said in a statement: "We are confident that the Minister [of Education, El James] himself complied with the appropriate provision that permitted him to have any member, and the chairman in particular, serve beyond two consecutive terms and the opposing lawyer is aware of as much from the last proceeding when this point was forcibly brought to her attention.

"We hope that she will responsibly advise her clients to cease and desist, covertly and/or overtly, trying this case in the court of public opinion as this clumsy and malevolent manoeuvre will only quite unnecessarily exacerbate an already potentially explosive situation.

"We believe that all parties to this matter ought to abide the rendering of the court's judgment."

Mr. Thomas said Mr. Ible is being paid to stay at home, Mrs. Bean added: "They have said to have Mr. Ible at CedarBridge will cause dissension.

"You have illegally fired this man and now you don't want him back on the hill. He has never caused dissension so to say that he's going to cause dissension, I don't believe that.

"If so, he's causing more dissension because they're not allowing him to come back."

Venous Memari represents the managers while Michael Smith represent CedarBridge.