Public school principals walked out of a meeting with Education Commissioner Wendy McDonell yesterday because they were dissatisfied with a proposal on possible school closures, said a source.

The outrage caused the Association of School Principals (ASP) to write a statement explaining their displeasure with the Ministry, which was sent to this newspaper. A copy of the three-page document sent at 12.22 p.m. from Gilbert Institute said school leaders found out about possible closures through the media on January 13. And it revealed that Government might now be looking to close other schools than those thought to be facing the axe — information said to have been given to the ASP by Mrs. McDonell in the meeting.

East End, Prospect, Gilbert Institute, Heron Bay and Dalton E. Tucker primary schools had been named for possible closure. Education Minister El James released a statement last night insisting no decision has been made to consolidate schools.

Meanwhile, the source told this newspaper the principals walked out because they had “issues” with the one-page document handed to them by Mrs. McDonell. “The first issue was that they haven’t been consulted. So you have a Ministry who is looking at this proposal but you haven’t included the school leaders. They haven’t said what’s going to happen.

“They keep saying it’s the Ministry and the Ministry keeps saying it’s just a discussion. “So it says September 2010. In school terms, that’s tomorrow. If you do have a plan, say it’s the plan and show us how it’s going to happen.

“The main concern is the curriculum initiative. Anybody knows you don’t want to be doing anything but implementing the curriculum properly.”

Government launched the Cambridge International Curriculum September of last year and it is being used on a pilot basis in preparation for its full roll out in September. “The focus is not on Cambridge right now. When you tell people their jobs are going, you’re on a survival mode. That’s what I see as being the main concern.”

The ASP statement appeared to echo that opinion.

It read in part: “We are aware of the plan for school closures/consolidation. What we cannot support at this time is a proposal that is not comprehensive, without a clear rationale, which has not included the input of the leaders of our schools and which is poorly timed as it relates to implementation for September 2010.

“What has been shared to date is still inadequate, provides limited data and no strategies for execution.

“We call on the Minister and Department of Education leaders to be honest, clear and transparent with sharing the whole plan by Friday, January 22, 2010.

“Once we have in our possession the comprehensive plan, we want to assure our parents, teachers and students that we will analyse the plan and put forward to the Ministry of Education constructive recommendations based on what we know is in the best interest of students in the Bermuda public school system.”

Mr. James insisted a decision was yet to be made. He said the Ministry’s priorities for September 2010 remain “Cambridge, principal leadership and teaching and learning”.

“The focus on these priorities must be laserlike if we are to succeed, and we cannot be distracted by this talk about school consolidation,” he said.

“We must focus on the successful implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum across the entire public school system, strengthening the leadership capabilities of our principals and improving the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom.

“If any decision on school consolidation is made, there will be full consultation.

“We will hold public meetings to fully explain any proposals, and we will seek input from all stakeholders. Until that time, the focus remains on the three priorities already mentioned — the Cambridge Curriculum, principal leadership and teaching and learning in the classroom.”