The Ministry of Education is refusing to say whether it has appointed a principal for Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy more than three years after the last one left.Dr Dena Lister is listed on the Ministry’s website as principal but there has never been an official announcement about the appointment to staff, parents or the public.Asked if the post had been filled, a Government spokeswoman told The Royal Gazette this week: “The Ministry has no comment on the matter”.The Ministry of Education (MoE) website still lists a job advert posted in the spring of 2008 for the principalship of the Devonshire school, which has about 25 students with physical and cognitive challenges.It invites applications for the $109,000-a-year post from qualified teachers and states candidates must possess a “master’s degree in education with specialisation in severe multiple challenges or the equivalent” and ten years teaching experience.The last principal, Bonnie McGlynn, left the publicly-funded school in summer 2008 and Dr Lister, a former Sandys Secondary Middle School deputy principal, took over as acting principal in September that year.According to the Ministry’s Policies and Procedures Manual for Principals, issued in April 2006, acting appointments should “not normally exceed two years” though this can be extended in exceptional circumstances. A source told this newspaper they believed Dr Lister had recently been offered the permanent principal’s post, after more than three years as acting principal.“Policies and procedures have not been followed with this appointment and the parents have a right to know,” the source alleged. This newspaper sent questions to Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith, permanent secretary Warren Jones and Educational Commissioner for Teaching and Learning Wendy McDonell.Our queries, which remain unanswered, were:l Why is the job advert for principal still online at www.moed.bm?l How many people applied for the position before the stated June 11, 2008 closing date?l Was anyone appointed?l Has Dr Lister been acting principal for more than two years and, if so, what are the exceptional circumstances that have led to this?l Has the job of principal been advertised again since summer 2008 in the local media, as the Ministry’s manual on principals requires? Has it been advertised internally?l Will staff, parents and the public be told about the permanent principalship of the maintained school, in line with the 2007 Hopkins Report recommendation that the Ministry improves communication with education stakeholders?We asked Jose Lopez, president of the Academy’s parent teacher association, if Dr Lister was permanent or acting principal. He said it wasn’t clear, adding: “Any clarity would be helpful.”He said: “On behalf of the PTA, I feel this is a question to be put to the Ministry of Education and not the PTA.“One of the key objectives of the PTA is to strive for clear communication between the school and the parents and guardians of the students. If the MoE is aware of any issues related to the school, this would be of interest to the PTA.”Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons said: “These are legitimate questions about the leadership of Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and they need to be answered by the Minister.“Failure to communicate with parents and teachers will create further mistrust and suspicion of the Ministry’s actions.”Association of School Principals president Holly Richardson said: “The ASP has no comment.”Dr Lister could not be reached via e-mail or phone this week.Useful website: www.moed.bmends