After his sick leave, he announced « no more knock »: school director suspended, disciplinary investigation started for toxic leadership (Koekelare)
CV is suspended as director of primary school De Lettertuin in Koekelare. – © JHM
The 60-year-old director of primary school De Lettertuin in Koekelare was suspended after he had returned out of sick leave. The reason: « His return was tumultuous, he proclaimed aloud ‘until his retirement not to do a knock’ and a disciplinary investigation was started for toxic leadership, » the Board of Directors announced. He still fought his suspension at the Council of State but caught bone.
A whole history precedes the CV suspension on November 20 last year. The man has a long career at the school group and between 2017 and 2024 was even general manager of the Scholengroep Stroom Strong Schools of Community Education. He himself announced that he would lay down his office in August 2024, so that a new general director was sought. At that time, however, CV had not yet reached retirement age.
Via correspondence, CV proposed to press the pause button through illness from 16 August 2024, and then on January 1, 2025 via a secondment in its own institution while retaining Wedde and pension rights to return to work, and then go back in illness until his retirement on 1 January 2027. CV even added: « But I have to ask that disease. But it is better for the school group. » However, the Board of Directors ruled that on November 4 last year, after his sick leave, he had to take back his position as director of primary school, « without additional compensations. »
“No more loyal”
CV returned effectively on November 4, but was preventively suspended on 20 November in the event of urgency. « His return to the letter garden has been tumultuous, » the Board of Directors announced to the Council of State. « He proclaimed aloud that he will not do a knock until his retirement, » the Board of Directors says in a bad light and literally writes that he will no longer be loyal. Several staff members have reported since the end of his mandate that he did not always spend financial resources from the school group correctly and there is toxic leadership. » A disciplinary investigation was started and the suspension was confirmed by the Chamber of Appeal of Community Education.
CV is suspended as director of primary school De Lettertuin in Koekelare. – © JHM
Director CV went into the counterattack and fought his suspension at the Council of State. « He was in charge of the school group for 7 years and made decisions that not everyone fails, » his lawyer Bart Bronders argued. « Not everyone has a warm heart for him and some believe that there are still bills to be settled. Others benefit from the situation and start a gossip campaign. CV always received favorable evaluations and the unjustified dismissal is deeply taking on. The moral damage is great. »
Settle accounts
However, the Council of State did not accept the question of lifting the suspension and to adjust CV back. It was not judged on the grounds of the case, but the Council of State ruled that the urgency of the case nor the tensions in the workplace were sufficiently demonstrated. « We also give both parties that there are other possibilities to resolve the conflict, such as an open dialogue to arrive at clear and workable agreements or through mediation. »
