St. Michael's College School announces resignations of President and Principal, enabling focus on healing and change
Interim President and Vice Principals to assume acting leadership
TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - St. Michael's College School has announced that President Fr. Jefferson Thompson, CSB, and Principal Greg Reeves have resigned, effective immediately, citing their shared desire to move the school forward without distractions and allow it to focus on healing and change after the horrific events of student misbehaviour that came to light last week.
The Board of Directors has also appointed Fr. Andrew Leung, CSB, as interim president, effective immediately. A former science and physics teacher at St. Michael's College School from 2013 to 2016, he is currently pastor and rector of St. Alphonsus and St. Clare parishes in Edmonton. Vice Principals Emile John and David Lee will serve as acting co-principals. The appointments have the support of the Superior General, Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB, and the General Council of the Basilian Fathers.
The Board will be launching a search for new permanent leadership of the school, with its highest priority being to implement the findings of the independent Respect and Culture Review.
"Greg Reeves and Fr. Thompson have always put the welfare, education and formation of our students first – and they do so once again today," says Michael Forsayeth, the Chair of the Board of Directors. "Having fulfilled their moral and ethical obligations to manage the immediate crisis and engage our school community, this courageous decision allows us to move forward with our goals: understanding how these events could have occurred, regaining the trust of our community and bringing cultural change to our school."
Action plan
St. Michael's College School has taken immediate action to:
- Launch a SMCS Respect and Culture Review, led by an independent third-party committee. The Board is working to identify members. It will examine the traditions, rituals, and social practices of students at every grade level and in all areas of school life.
- Cancel all events involving external groups, teams and public performances for the remainder of 2018.
- Cancel mid-year assessments for 2018. Instead, students will participate in workshops and discussions pertaining to the recent issues.
- Implement an anonymous voicemail for students. The school asks students to report any inappropriate behaviours and incidents they have experienced, seen, or heard about at the school.
ABOUT ST. MICHAEL'S COLLEGE SCHOOL
Since 1852, St. Michael's College School has been educating and forming young men in goodness, discipline, and knowledge for lives of leadership and service. We are Canada's only Catholic, Basilian, faith-based independent school, educating young men from Grades 7 to 12 in a university-preparatory programme, and forming them with a foundation for life.
SOURCE St. Michael's College School
Lianne Castelino, 416-316-7672, [email protected]; Michael De Pellegrin, 647-242-2226, [email protected]
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