Former board chair adamant potential investors could have kept Bishop Bavin doors open

Previous chairperson of the board at Bishop Bavin School cited the Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg’s decision to decline offers from potential investment as a major factor for the school closing.

Former chairperson of the school board, Adri Grobler, served the school from 2012 and was chairperson of the board for three months before the board was disbanded.

Grobler said the board was given notice by the Diocese to step down on May 30.

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“I was called by the Bishop and told they need to remove me from the board along with three other independent members. We were devastated.

“The Diocese brought in five new members. I sent letters stating we don’t accept the removal, however they succeeded in bringing in trustees and and so they gained immediate control,” said Grobler.

“Five days later, the Diocese announced the school’s closure due to discovering the finances were worse than expected.

“I believe the school closed down due to lack of finances and the Diocese being unwilling, over the last seven months, to be open and transparent about why they did not accept any of the deals from three potential investors.”

She said the school’s total debt totals at least R31.5-million, including two loans, one from the Diocese and the other from a creditor plus prepaid fees.

“The Diocese sent out emails to parents stating they are looking for the reserve fund of prepaid fees, knowing very well that in December 2019 we sat down with the Diocese and they acknowledged that the funds will be utilised for operational costs at the school,” she said.

“Financial debt has been piling up for many years, way before I became involved with the school. The school could never recover from the financial deficit, exacerbated by the 2008 world-wide financial crisis. Self-employed parents around this time also struggled as businesses were affected and couldn’t maintain paying school fees,” she said.

Grobler said the school built up debt in that period, which wasn’t recoverable.

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“I took control of the debt book in September 2019. I now believe the debt could’ve been recovered through legal action – up to about 80 percent. A number of summons were to be issued from February and it all came to a standstill due to the pandemic.

“Staff and parents did not deserve the way the school closed. There were alternatives. The board was transparent with staff and parents throughout.”

She said meetings took place on April 2 and 23 with staff, on April 5 with parents and both staff and parents on May 26.

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“We laid everything on the table to staff and parents. Parents and board members explored ways to club together financially, but the crisis was too dire. I brought three deals to the table to save the school, but the Diocese will not accept it,” she said.

Grobler also accused the Diocese of not being transparent.

“By liquidating the school, they can wash their hands from it. I wish they had taken the first deal as it was the best option. I believe the school could have been saved. We could’ve made something work if there was transparency.

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“If we had open dialogue, we could’ve avoided this, and now they have made their own conclusions concerning the ex-board.”

Grobler said the Diocese said there was a conflict of interest between the ex-board and the first possible investor.

“The Diocese implied we had something to gain. I had an extreme amount to gain and that was to save the school,” said Grobler.

Spokesperson for the Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg Father Xolani Dlwathi confirmed to the NEWS that three entities showed the most interest. Dlwathi said the conditions of the negotiations were not favourable to the school and church.