Hopwood investigation nears completion

Investigation results on Hopwood Junior High School Principal Lourdes Mendiola and conflicts linking her to serious student discipline issues at the school are now 100 percent complete but its contents have yet to revealed.

Acting Commissioner Louise Concepcion has been given 14 working days to make a decision on the case based on the investigation completed by the legal counsel and the Equal Employment Office.

Ms. Concepcion is set to hold talks with signatories of the petition today to discuss the findings of the investigation.

The acting commissioner has reportedly met with Ms. Mendiola earlier to get her side of the story.

Two months ago, HJHS teachers and staff filed a petition seeking the ouster of Ms. Mendiola as principal of Hopwood for her alleged “incompetence” as head of administration.

Earlier, signatories have protested investigation findings that “miscommunication” as the root cause of conflicts surrounding the junior high.

HJHS teachers and staff specifically pointed out that reports on certain assault incidents were relayed to Mrs. Mendiola but the latter allegedly ignored complaints.

Since they filed the petition, teachers and staff still fear threats of campus assaults and violence, noting there has been no implementation of any appropriate discipline program at the school.

Petitioners also blame the existing Hopwood controversy for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ (WASC) failure to grant the school a six-year accreditation.

According to staff and teachers, WASC made it clear that what was transpiring at Hopwood was “unacceptable” of a learning institution.

“This matter will now be left to the acting deputy commissioner of administration,” said PSS Legal Counsel Tim Connor in a news release.

Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos earlier recused herself from the case and appointed Ms. Concepcion to take on the administrative decision.

If petitioners are not satisfied with Ms. Concepcion’s decision, a notice of appeal may be filed in writing including the signatures of those petitioners wishing to appeal with the Board of Education chair within three days, according to Mr. Connor.

The BOE chair will then appoint three BOE members to serve under a hearing panel for the case. The hearing will be held within 45 days of the petitioners’ request for the hearing. (MM)