SHOCK DECISION: Long-standing Junee teachers to be transferred

PARENTS of a Junee primary school have expressed their anger and upset after learning that, through no choice of their own, two of the school’s highly respected and longest-standing teachers won’t be returning next year.

The Junee Bulletin can confirm that, after decades of teaching children at Junee North Public School, Mrs Gabrielle Commins and Mr Adam Baldock will walk out of the school gates for the last time when Term 4 ends next month.

In a statement to The Junee Bulletin, the NSW Department of Education said the teachers are being transferred due to a drop in the number of students at Junee North.

“Two Junee North Public teachers are being supported to transfer to nearby local public schools of their choosing in Junee and Wagga, following a decrease in anticipated enrolments at the school,” a spokesperson for the department told The Junee Bulletin.

“We would like to thank both staff members for their valued contribution to the Junee North Public School community and wish them both the best in their new roles.”

Mrs Commins first began teaching at Junee North Public School in a casual capacity in 1991, before taking up her first full time position with the school a few years later.

She’s remained there ever since, alongside Mr Baldock who started with the school in the early 2000s.

It is not yet known what school the Junee teachers will be transferred to, but the Department of Education has confirmed they will take up their new positions at the start of Term 1, 2025.

In its statement to The Junee Bulletin, the Department of Education said its schools are staffed “equitably”; but parents claim the decision was far from fair or impartial, and say the teachers never put their hand up to leave.

Speaking with The Junee Bulletin on the condition that she remain anonymous, a woman whose children attend the school said the choice appears to have been more of a personal preference of the school’s principal, Mrs Justine McDevitt, rather than based on performance.

“I know that they both don’t want to leave. They’re not happy with the decision and are quite upset about it,” the woman said.

“None of us are happy with the decision. I personally don’t want either of those teachers to leave. They’re fabulous teachers.

Parents say they have been kept in the dark over the decision, and have accused the school’s principal of ignoring their concerns.

“To my knowledge, there’s been no communication with any of the parents,” the woman told The Junee Bulletin.

“Multiple parents have requested a P&C meeting before the end of the year to discuss it further but that’s been ignored or denied. We have been told there won’t be another one until 2025.

“Parents’ questions that have been asked in the school’s private Facebook Group are also being deleted and the principal is the only person that manages the group, she has full control.

“So it’s quite obvious that the principal doesn’t want this to be discussed because she’s probably aware that no one’s going to be very happy with the decision.”

The Junee Bulletin was first alerted to the news by multiple concerned parents last week.

The mother who agreed to speak in detail on the matter providing that her identity is withheld, said the school’s best interests are not being considered.

“I just don’t understand the justification behind the decision when they’re such great teachers,” she said.

“I know that they have to cut numbers because of enrolments, but I just don’t think that the staff that’ve been chosen are the right choice.

“There’s a newer teacher who’s been at the school for only a few years and he doesn’t have as much experience, he’s currently being mentored by another teacher, so I don’t think the decision is fair.

“If you needed to transfer someone you would think that it would be some of the newer staff and not the long-standing staff who have such strong connections to our community. It just doesn’t make sense.”

The woman said the decision will no doubt have a huge impact on the small school.

“It’s such a small school community, there’s under 100 children up there. So it is a really close little school,” she said.

“I just want the community to know what’s going on because I don’t think it’s fair.”

Neither Mrs McDevitt, Mrs Commins nor Mr Baldock replied to our request for comment.