By Lynford Simpson, Staff Reporter
THE ADMINISTRATION and students of Mico Teachers' College remain at loggerheads despite reaching agreement on a number of issues that sparked a demonstration by students on Monday.
Martin Matthews, president of the student's council, said yesterday students would resort to more demonstrations if Winsome Reid, acting vice principal, was replaced at the end of May.
He said students and Mrs. Reid had an "excellent relationship" and it would be a "backward step" for her to be given the position of Dean of the evening college. Mrs. Reid has acted in that position before.
While a committee of board members is expected to deal with the matter, students are not satisfied the principal, Dr. Claude Packer, is in support of Mrs Reid maintaining the VP position.
"They (the students) seem to be of the opinion he (Dr. Packer) would probably want her out as well," Mr. Matthews said. He said it would be unfortunate because Mrs Reid had "served him well". Efforts by The Gleaner yesterday to contact Dr. Packer were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the administration had agreed to suspend the $200 processing fee which was at the heart of Monday's demonstration. The fee is chargeable where fees are paid late and for processing students' loan matters. The matter is to be reviewed by the school board.
The administration has also agreed to provide a breakdown of how school fees were spent, by the end of next week. A decision is to be made at next month's board meeting as to whether supper will be reinstated. Dr. Packer told The Gleaner on Monday that Mico was one of few teachers' colleges still providing students with three meals per day.
He also disclosed 30 per cent of the institution's 1,400 students had not paid their fees resulting in a budgetary shortfall of $7 million.
Final year students still owed more than $700,000 and had been told they would not benefit from an external assessment which is critical to the awarding of a certificate or diploma.
