Port Royal Primary School reopened its doors yesterday after turning students away for the duration of Monday.

The Ministry of Education confirmed on Monday that the school was closed because of “insufficient staff” numbers and a call to the school confirmed it was open again yesterday.

The ministry did not confirm the reason for the school’s closure but an anonymous group of “concerned parents” behind a petition referenced a continuing dispute with Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, over her intervention in a student disciplinary matter last month.

The petition called for the reinstatement of a teacher who was placed on administrative leave in relation to the matter and the parents are encouraging all of Bermuda to sign up to their cause over the next week.

The petition threatened “further action” if the teacher was not reinstated by last Friday. It has garnered 652 signatures since being launched on May 9.

In a statement last night, the group reiterated its stance that there should be no ministerial interference in the matter of a student of the school being prohibited from competing in a race as a form of discipline. The group said it believed in holding children accountable for their actions, which it said was a restorative practice that improves behaviour.

Its statement said: “Almost all parents at Port Royal, as well as parents from many other schools and members of the community, are united on this issue, because it is greater than any one school …

“As a result, the petition remains active. Therefore, we are calling on the community to sign and double the numbers in the next seven days.

“We now call for all of the public to sign the petition, as the next steps are in motion to ensure our future generation has a chance.

“Together, we can achieve this goal; after all, children must learn responsibility through appropriate consequences, a principle that has shaped productive citizens for generations.”

The Royal Gazette asked the Ministry of Education for an update on the situation but did not receive a response by press time.

The Bermuda Union of Teachers did not respond to questions.