'Assurance' row hots up as minister sidesteps the debate

THE war of words between Education and St Andrew's Primary School PTA intensified yesterday.

The two disagree over whether or not the department gave an assurance that its recommendation to keep the school open would not be debated by the States.

Education minister Carol Steere (pictured) released a letter sent in September to then PTA chairman Alasdair McLaren confirming that the department would 'recommend' to the States that the school remains open.

Deputy Steere added that notes from a July meeting between the department and PTA had also stated that the board's recommendation would go to the States for approval.

But Mr McLaren insisted yesterday that Deputy Steere and director of education Derek Neale had assured the PTA at the July meeting that the States would only debate a recommendation of closure.

'When we met Carol Steere and Derek Neale, we specifically asked the question, "if the report states that St Andrew's remains open, will that decision by the board be put to the States to vote on?"

'The answer to that question was, no, it would not. "It would only be put to the States if the recommendation was for closure".'