JEDDAH, 12 December — Parents at the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) are indignant over an alleged decision by the school’s governing board to replace the school’s canteen concessionaire in a highly improper manner.

In a petition, the parents complained that the appointment of a new concessionaire was not only done without transparency but also rushed without giving the existing concessionaire enough time to move out.

“You have secretly negotiated its entry without the transparency that we, the parents, have expected to happen,” said the petition.

It said the secret negotiation gives the impression that someone may have gained material and financial favors from the new contractor.

“If our interpretation of your action is incorrect and you honestly believe that you are doing what’s best for the school, we ask you to consider the proposal to hold a closed bidding to obtain the highest and best bidder among qualified contenders,” it added.

The School Board said the termination of the concession was done above board.

The petition was signed by 114 parents and endorsed by the association of presidents of the Parent-Teacher Associations for each high school year and elementary grade levels.

In their own letter, the PTA presidents headed by Ronald Mangua reminded the BoT chaired by Efren Rodriguez of a recent directive by the Saudi Ministry of Education that “no major decisions” should be made by the present board in view of the forthcoming election.

The present school board had overstayed its term, which was supposed to have ended a few months ago.

The parents complained that the Board did not even consider the Ramadan season in terminating the contract of Ali Aboud Doman on Nov. 30.

Vouching for the “capability, sincerity and long experience” of Daoud in food catering business, they said the secret deal “makes one suspect that something inappropriate exists between you and the new contractor you have personally chosen to take over.”

‘Parents were misled’

In answer to an Arab News query, school board chairman Efren Rodriguez explained that Doman Trading’s concession was terminated in a proper manner.

“As provided in the contract, at least 60 days notice should be given to the concessionaire should the Board not wish to renew the contract.

“Accordingly, the board gave the 60 days notice on 08 September 2001 as we are not happy with the current concessionaire’s performance. Besides, this will give us better options as well,” Rodriguez said.

He added: “In short, the current board acted in good faith to protect the interest of the school contractually and to give the school better opportunity to consider other concessionaires instead of being tied up with one person. This is not a midnight deal as it was done at the expiry of the contract.”

Other board officials who asked not to be named said the parents who signed the petition were apparently misled by those who solicited their signatures.

They named the real owner of the canteen as one Eli Sy, who they said had renewed and negotiated the contract in the previous years and who manages the canteen daily.

“If things are to her favor she claims to be the owner, but if there are problems she is passing us to Ali Doman whom we never met until this time,” said one school official.

“When we served the notice letter she gave us a hard time. She refused to receive the letter and claims that we have to give it to Ali Douman which we can never locate,” the official added.

The officials also said they faced similar problems whenever they send the bill, statement of account or similar letter which have contractual implications because Eli Sy refuses to receive document in the canteen.

“We know for a fact that the alleged petition was initiated and prepared by Eli herself and asked some parents to sign (blindly) to protect her business interest. You know, if you are a parent and inside her canteen and she asks you to sign — normally people specially us Filipinos just sign in order not to offend the host. We have witnesses to this and we know this was done as early as October,” the same official said.

Election issue

Rodriguez said it was not surprising that the PTG officers were riding on the issue because it’s election time for the school board.

The election should have been held during the middle of the year but it had been postponed pending the go-ahead of the Saudi Ministry of Education.

Observers said the performance of the Rodriguez Board is a legitimate issue that should not be ignored.

“This canteen thing pales in comparison to the bigger question of how the Rodriguez Board spent the school’s money,” said one PTG president, who asked not to be identified.