Head denies office move cost £35,000

A HEAD teacher says claims that £35,000 was spent on moving her office are wrong.

And Trish O’Donnell, from Clarksfield Primary School, said any suggestion that she was spending £3,000 on a desk for her office was completely untrue and wholly mischievous.

Claims have been made that the money was used for moving her office, renovated last year, from the fourth floor to the ground floor.

It has also been alleged £3,000 was spent on a solid maple desk and that three coat stands were bought.

One resident, who did not want to be identified, described the spending as sordid.

They added: “It is shameful that a head teacher in such a deprived area sees fit to lavish such large amounts of taxpayers’ money on herself when many parents struggle or cannot afford to pay for school meals or school trips.”

Ms O’Donnell said refurbishments at the school were part of a three-year programme of work for the whole school building, which is more than 100 years old and in urgent need of repair.

She said: “The work now taking place is the latest phase of that programme which has already seen major improvements to the pupils’ toilets, classrooms, playground and stairwells, as well as to ensure the health and safety of pupils and staff.

“As for my office move from the top floor to the ground floor, this was done with the full support of the governing body and in response to the request of many parents for me to be based in a more accessible location.

“Parents coming to see me with young children in buggies had great difficulty getting to my office on the top floor which was up four flights of stairs.

“Equally important is the school’s security and the relocation of my office and the secretary’s office to the ground floor at the front of the building ensures the safety and security of all pupils and staff.

“There is now a constant presence at the entrance to the school where all visitors and members of the public can be monitored.”