Dr Sandy Kissoon Singh, formerly of Fairview Elementary School in Mississauga was in June of this year divested of his position as Principal of the school and subsequently transferred to Huntingdon Ridge Elementary School in the capacity of Vice Principal.

The action by the School Board has raised the ire of community organizations and individuals and has led to the formation of the Committee to Reinstate Dr Sandy Kissoon Singh as principal of Fairview Elementary School in Mississauga.

In a release the Committee stated that it views the action taken by the Peel District School Board against Dr Kissoon Singh as "illegal, unfair and discriminatory."

It is calling for "a review of the unfair dismissal of Dr Sandy Kissoon Singh and his immediate reinstatement to his former position."

It is also seeking to have an investigation done to determine who is responsible for this unpalatable affair so as to ensure that no other person would be made to suffer a similar fate.

Born in Trinidad, Dr Kissoon Singh has served the Peel Board for many years as a teacher and vice principal. He was appointed principal of Fairview Elementary School for just two semesters before his removal. Last June, his Superintendent of Education from the Peel Public School Board notified him by letter that he would be removed from his post as principal. He was asked to immediately clear all his belongings from the school's premises.

According to the mild mannered Dr Kissoon Singh, the charge against him was that he was "intimidating" to staff members.

The Committee contended that not only did the School Board not follow the procedures for disciplining principals in Dr Kissoon Singh's case but that there was no inquiry and that he was not allowed any opportunity to defend himself against the charges, or face his accusers. Further, that the former Principal received no prior warnings or reprimands about his performance.

Since his demotion cum transfer, Dr Kissoon Singh has taken ill and is off the job.

The Committee, under the Chairmanship on Reynold Ramdial is charging that this "is a plain case of abuse of the disciplinary process for administrators in the Peel School Board, and an act of injustice and discrimination against Dr Sandy Kissoon Singh, the South Asian Community in particular and visible minorities as a whole."

The Committee argues that the dismissal of Dr Kissoon Singh has sent a message to the Indo Caribbean/South Asian community in Peel that they need not try to achieve higher positions in the administration of the Peel School Board.

"It has reinforced public suspicion of the reasons for the chronic under representation of South Asians as teachers, administrators, office staff and guidance counselors in the Peel Board, as compared to their share of the Peel population. It has confirmed what South Asians know to be the hidden barriers to hiring and promotion and the glass ceiling for South Asians based on their ethnicity," it said in its release.

In its effort to support Dr Kissoon Singh, the Committee is currently researching systemic barriers and prejudice against people of Indian background in the Peel School Board. It is calling on those people with information to support the Committee by contacting Reynold Ramdial at 416-540-0192 or e-mail at r_ramdial@yahoo.ca.