JEDDAH, 12 October — Angry parents of the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) yesterday agreed to dissolve the school Board during an assembly, throwing the already troubled school into a crisis.

Rallying under the banner of the Parent-Teachers Council (PTC), the parents sought to assemble in the school grounds on Gornatah district to discuss their grievances yesterday afternoon, only to find the gate locked on orders of the Board.

The Board had refused to allow the assembly inside the school, saying they had to get first a permit from local authorities.

Witnesses said silence filled the air when police on board eight patrol cars, tipped off by school officials, arrived as the parents lined up outside the gate.

But tension turned into rejoicing as the head of the police team, finding no violence contrary to what he had been told, merely asked what was going on, Arab News learned.

After being informed that they were being denied use of their own school for a legitimate purpose, the police asked to see school Board chairman Efren Rodriguez, who happened to live nearby.

Rodriguez ended up being invited to the police precinct to answer questions, and with the PTC members filing a complaint against him and the Board.

PTC chairman Fidel Hernandez said the complaints include embezzlement of school funds, among others.

During their assembly outside the school gate, the parents agreed to declare the Board headed by Rodriguez dissolved. The PTC was to take over in a temporary capacity, while appointing school principal Dr. Reinita Respicio as chief executive officer, also in a temporary capacity.

Hernandez said more than 200 parents joined the assembly but Board member Alex Macabanding disputed that, saying there were only 50 parents.

He said the rest were “standbys” who were asked by PTC members to join them.

Rodriguez, after getting out of the police precinct later in the night, rejected the PTC takeover, saying the assembly was not authorized in the first place.

"We will not recognize their action," he said, explaining that the school has to abide by the rules set by the host government.

Rodriguez said the Board refused to allow the assembly inside the school because the Ministry of Education has issued instructions that no such assembly should be held without permission of the governor of Jeddah.

Application for a permit has to be filed first with the MOE, which will then endorse the same to the governor's office if it finds merit in it, according to Rodriguez.

He said the ministry was strict about such meetings at the IPSJ because of past events in which some people were beaten up in the heat of discussions.

"If I allow the assembly inside the school and something happens, it is I, being the chairman, who will have to answer to the MOE," he told Arab News in a telephone interview.

According to Hernandez, the PTC had to call the assembly because the Board refused to meet with them.

"They refused to meet with the parents probably because they don't want to answer the many questions that are being raised," he said.

Among these questions are the alleged refusal of the Board to release a financial statement of the school, refusal to show the school budget, and alleged misappropriation of funds.

Rodriguez said they are surprised by the charges because these have already been answered and explained in a letter to parents, as well as in a previous assembly.

On the charge that the Board members were overstayers, Rodriguez said they have already explained that their term had been extended by the MOE for three years.

He also said the new policy provides that even if their term expires, they should remain in office until a new Board is elected. "That is why if they (PTC) say they have ousted us, then they're doing it against the authorities because being elected to the Board and recognized as such by the MOE, we are in effect the alter ego of the ministry," he said.

Rodriguez said he will give a point-by-point answer to the findings of an audit team, whose report is being cited by the PTC.