South Australia's education department has stood down Wallaroo Mines Primary School's principal while it investigates allegations made by parents. The education minister says some of the allegations were around the principal's partner attending a school camp, but he did not believe there were any welfare concerns.
Allegations around principal Tamarin Condon have circulated from an online petition calling for a 'positive change in leadership', which has garnered almost 200 signatures. In a statement, a Department for Education spokesperson said the principal was 'on leave' while the allegations were being investigated.
Education Minister Blair Boyer said the department's decision to direct Ms Condon away from the school was the 'strongest action' it could take. 'I think some of the allegations were around her partner attending a school camp,' Mr Boyer said. 'He didn't work at the school, which is not the done thing and not the right thing to do.'
Mr Boyer said he did not believe there were any welfare concerns surrounding the allegations. 'That's not to say that the allegations aren't serious … it's more around whether or not the alleged behaviour of the principal was appropriate or not,' he said. The department will decide whether any further action is required.
SA police said it was aware of the matter, and there was 'no police investigation at this time'. According to the school's Facebook page, Ms Condon started at the school at the beginning of term three this year. Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis said he first became aware of the allegations over the past couple of weeks, when he began receiving calls from several parents.
