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Liz Heron

Managers refuse to give reason for firing brothers who called for probe into dismissal of staff member and finances

Managers at a Canadian international school have refused to reveal why they sacked two popular senior staff - despite demands for an explanation from parents.

The Delia School of Canada fired Vaughan Blaney, deputy principal at its Taikoo Shing campus, and John Blaney, assistant principal at Kowloon Tong, with immediate effect on Friday last week.

Executive director Peter Lee Chiu-chung said yesterday the sackings had been approved by school supervisor and owner Dr Henry Cheng Kar-shun, who is also managing director of property giant New World Development Company.

The school management committee, which Mr Lee served on, had unanimously agreed that the two brothers should be  summarily dismissed in an administrative reorganisation.

'However, I am not authorised to discuss the reasons for dismissal,' he said.

The Blaneys  claimed their sackings came less than a fortnight after they asked Dr Cheng and school manager Stewart Leung Chi-kin  for an investigation into the school's financial management and the sacking last month of administrative assistant Eddie Amancio.

They also wanted to know why an audit of extra-curricular activities had been ordered.

Executive director Mr Lee said that,  following the request, Dr Cheng had assigned Mr Leung to conduct an investigation. Principal Patrick Lee Wai-pak said he had been questioned by Mr Leung as part of that investigation but refused to go into details.

'As far as I am concerned, the financial management of the school seems to be good and sound and following normal business practices,' he said.

The Blaneys have questioned why school renovations over the past two to three years were awarded to a single contractor.  The principal said  $2 million to $3 million  had been spent redecorating three quarters of the Taikoo Shing campus and installing an all-weather playground. As it was independent, Delia School was not required to tender for contractors.

'There is no question of any irregularities or conflict of interest in our use of that company,' he said.

Patrick Lee said Eddie Amancio had been sacked  over financial issues relating to  school camps   during the past two years.

But Mr Amancio said the reasons given for his dismissal were 'totally unfounded'.

The principal said head clerk Keith Chan Kai-cheung  and administrative assistant Dewey Lam Dao-wai  had been suspended when Mr Amancio was sacked. Mr Chan resigned two days later but Mr Lam had returned to his post.

Parents were informed on Tuesday that Bob Haines, a senior educator from Nova Scotia, Canada, had been appointed as acting assistant principal of the Kowloon Tong campus and Todd Vienneau, the school's PE programme leader, had been promoted to head teacher of Taikoo Shing elementary section.

Greg Thibodeau, formerly head teacher at the Taikoo Shing elementary section, has been made head teacher of the Kowloon Tong section. No replacement has been announced for Vaughan Blaney as deputy principal at Taikoo Shing.

Students and alumni have written letters condemning the sackings. A group of students demanded answers to eight questions.

Alumnus Prashant Rao, who is now a student at the London School of Economics, wrote saying he was 'appalled' at the sacking of such well-respected and valued members of staff and hoped the school 'would reconsider'.

One parent said: 'Parents really want an explanation of what has happened. I am emotionally devastated at this move. The Blaneys were excellent leaders.'

Another said: 'They have sacked the Blaneys to take away the only people who dared to ask any questions about the school.'

The South China Morning Post understands the Blaneys have referred their concerns to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.



Delia School tight-lipped over sackings