Parents walked out frustrated after a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting at Francis Patton last night provided little in the way of answers to their concerns over the school's new principal.

Gina Tucker was named the new principal of the Hamilton Parish school two weeks ago.

She will replace Gloria Martin who is to move to Dalton E. Tucker Primary School in September.

Dr. Tucker was dismissed from Victor Scott Primary last June amid controversy after school counsellor Anthony Peets filed a grievance against her last year.

A subsequent arbitration hearing recommended that she be removed from the school which was backed by Education Commissioner Wendy McDonell.

She has since been working within the Ministry of Education.

Last week, the PTA placed an appeal in this newspaper for parents to attend the meeting to voice their concerns about the appointment of Dr. Tucker.

The two-hour meeting was held last night and Education Minister El James and Education Commissioner Wendy McDonell were on hand to answer questions.

However, according to parents, hardly any questions were answered and the meeting seemed to be a waste of time.

Press were not allowed to enter.

Selena Robinson has two children at Francis Patton and while she has nothing against Dr. Tucker, she doesn't want Mrs. Martin to leave.

"I feel that she is doing a great job. I don't know Dr. Tucker, but put her in another school.

"Put her in a lower school to bring them up. We're already at a high level.

"Mr. James was not answering the questions and wasn't giving good body language. I just want Mrs. Martin to stay. My children are very upset that she's going. I don't want a change."

A man who didn't wish to be identified said: "The decision has been made. The people in there need to know that nothing will change. I think it's follow the leader. Some do have a genuine concern.

"A decision has been made and it's not whether I agree with it or not, I need to make sure the complete administration is doing what they need to do. Mrs. Martin does a fantastic job. It's a done deal and we can't change it."

Another parent was upset at how the questions weren't answered.

"The Minister wouldn't allow the parents to say what they wanted. The people in the crowd wanted to show the validity of why they don't want her [Dr. Tucker]. They [Mr. James and Mrs. McDonell] kept saying 'we don't want to talk badly about her in her absence'.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tucker, who was not at the meeting, said: "I think it's important that people hear my voice and hear my commitment to the education of our young people. I am committed to Bermuda's young people and putting our children first. We have to work together to do that.

"I am willing to work with all persons. I think parents are basing their comments on hearsay and on not knowing me as a leader in their school and that I am very open to suggestions, very much prepared to listen to their concerns and their desires for the school and I would work to help them because it's their school.

"I am prepared to serve the community and I feel that I can make a contribution, but the parents have to be willing to hear both sides and to listen. I have an open-door policy."

General Secretary for the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) Mike Charles said his union was not in support of Dr. Tucker being moved to Francis Patton.

"I think they have a serious problem down there and they're trying to work it out. We don't feel that it's a positive move on the part of the Ministry of Education at this time to put Dr. Tucker down there into a situation where everybody has concerns about it.

"We can't see it's good move especially for the children. The Ministry, they are the managers and they manage. They don't always manage correctly. Hopefully good sense will prevail and something will happen to sort this thing out."