The Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) yesterday claimed a victory after a 14-year-old boy who was suspended for making lewd remarks at a teacher was banned from returning to school until a hearing to appeal his suspension is held tomorrow.

Some 900 students were sent home for a three-day weekend on Friday morning after teachers at CedarBridge Academy held a sit-in protested a loophole in the Student Code of Conduct.

The loophole allowed a suspended student ? who told another student, ?Tell that teacher to suck your balls? ? back into the class-room 30 minutes after being suspended without a cooling off period.

BUT president Lisa Trott said the Ministry?s decision to keep the student out of class until tomorrow?s hearing was an ?interim policy?, which would be permanently included in an amended Student Code of Conduct.

However, the BUT was still fuming over Chief Education Officer Dr. Joseph Christopher?s refusal to meet with them at a special meeting held at the school on Friday, despite his being on the school premises, she said.

?This is a victory for BUT,? Ms Trott said yesterday. ?But we are still very concerned of the process of the Ministry not willing to connect with the staff and we will address this in the appropriate forum.?

One teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also expressed disappointment at Dr. Christopher?s refusal to meet with them, saying that had he listened to their concerns, it was unlikely the classes would have been cancelled. ?We knew this was not something that could be fixed in one day, but we wanted our concerns heard,? the teacher said. Dr. Christopher did not return calls yesterday.

?We were successful in getting the student suspended until his hearing,? Ms Trott said. ?The union is now trying to get the Ministry to make it policy, so we don?t have the situation again.?

Ms Trott was confident the new Student Code of Conduct ? currently in the process of being re-written by a committee chaired by BUT immediate past-president Anthony Wolffe ? would not allow suspended children to return to school until after their appeal hearing.

Classes at CedarBridge Academy went on as normal yesterday.

CedarBridge Academy Parent Teacher Association (PTSA) president Karen Belboda said yesterday she was glad teachers were back in the classroom.

?Why should the large numbers suffer for the actions of one?? Mrs. Belboda asked. ?Teachers have a right to say enough is enough. They have put up with enough nonsense.?