Court orders that PSVE pay wages to dismissed teachers

July 20, 2012 7:58 PM

PHILIPSBURG - The Court of First Instance has ordered Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) to pay monthly salaries to two dismissed members of St. Maarten Academy Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education's (PSVE's) teaching staff retroactively from May 24 until their labour agreements are legally terminated.

The Court further ordered that PSVE's assistant disciplinary coach F.A.L. be reinstated in his job until his contract has been legally terminated.
 
Three PSVE staff members were suspended by their employer on February 20, after allegations had surfaced that they had been involved in inappropriate behaviour, conversations and interactions with at least four female students.
 
The teachers were dismissed as of May 15. Two of them filed an injunction against their dismissal in separate procedures, in which they requested payment of their salaries until the court decided whether their labour contracts had been legally terminated.
 
F.A.L. was employed as an assistant disciplinary coach, while R.E. was a gym teacher at PSVE. Both also sought reinstatement in their jobs. The court ruled in the gym teacher's injunction on July 5, while the court decision in the assistant's case was presented on Friday.
 
In both cases, the Court ordered FAVE to continue paying wages until the contracts are legally terminated. Both men were dismissed without the consent of the Director of the Department of Labour Affairs.
 
The allegations of sexual misconduct date back to February 2011, when five female students signed a statement in which they accused three school staff members of indecent behaviour. Their statement cited "extensive suggestive, sexual comments."
 
In February 2012, the school manager provided FAVE with an "Incident Report on students' accusations of inappropriate behaviour, conversations and interactions" of the three teachers. In the report it was stated that in 2011, a group of four students had levelled allegations against the teachers, who had denied the allegations.
 
The teachers were suspended on February 20, 2011, to enable FAVE to investigate the complaints. Four days later, the school's management team advised FAVE to dismiss the three teachers.
 
On March 12, FAVE formed an investigating committee to look into the accusations. This committee filed a report on April 4. FAVE discussed the contents of the report with the teachers later that month. They were both immediately terminated as of May 15.
 
In their letters of dismissal, it was stated that they were being terminated for making indecent, sexual remarks and for improper behaviour towards female students.
 
In the gym teacher's case, the court stated that it was its "preliminary assessment" that the documents provided by the school were insufficient to sustain the conclusion that he had been guilty of the alleged behaviour.

(The Daily Herald)

Ontslagen leraren moeten salaris ontvangen       

PHILIPSBURG—Het Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg heeft aan de Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (Fave) opdracht gegeven om de salarissen van twee ontslagen leraren van de St. Maarten Academy Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) met terugwerkende kracht tot 24 mei uit te betalen voor het resterende gedeelte van hun arbeidsovereenkomst.

Het Hof bepaalde ook dat PSVE de begeleider F.A.L. in zijn functie herstelt tot het aflopen van zijn arbeidscontract.

De drie personeelsleden werden door hun werkgevers ontslagen op 20 februari, na beschuldigingen dat zij zich onbehoorlijk hadden gedragen en ongepaste taal hadden gebezigd tegen minstens vier vrouwelijke leerlingen.

De leraren werden per 15 mei ontslagen. Twee van hen besloten onafhankelijk van elkaar een kort geding aan te vragen, waarbij zij om de uitbetaling van hun salaris verzochten tot het moment dat het Hof zou hebben bepaald of hun arbeidsovereenkomsten op geldige wijze waren beëindigd.

F.A.L. werkte als ‘assistent disciplinary coach’ en R.E. was gymleraar bij de PSVE. Beiden wensten weer aan het werk te gaan. In de zaak van R.E. deed de rechter uitspraak op 5 juli, de zaak van F.A.L. werd vrijdag behandeld.

In beide zaken gaf de rechter aan Fave de opdracht om de salarissen uit te betalen tot de afloop van hun contracten. Beide personeelsleden werden ontslagen zonder de toestemming van de directeur van Dienst Arbeidszaken.

De beschuldigingen van seksuele mishandeling werden gelanceerd in februari 2011, toen vijf vrouwelijke studenten een verklaring tekenden waarin drie stafleden van de school beschuldigd werden van ongepast gedrag en waarin gesproken werd van ‘zeer suggestieve seksuele uitlatingen’.

In februari 2012 werden de beschuldigingen in de vorm van een officieel rapport door de rector aan Fave overhandigd. Het rapport maakte melding van de beschuldigingen van de studenten tegen de leraren, die alle beschuldigingen afwezen. De leraren werden op 20 februari geschorst in het licht van het onderzoek. Vier dagen later gaf de schoolleiding het advies aan Fave om de betrokken personeelsleden te ontslaan.