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| Computer probe: Glemsford School governors facing sack | |
| (1 day later) | |
| The entire governing board at a primary school in Suffolk is facing the sack over a bill for £500,000 for what the head thought were "free" laptops. | |
| Glemsford Primary said it unwittingly signed a deal leasing 100 computers on the basis they would not cost anything and was caught up in a suspected fraud. | Glemsford Primary said it unwittingly signed a deal leasing 100 computers on the basis they would not cost anything and was caught up in a suspected fraud. |
| Supplier, Direct Technology Solutions Ltd, then went into administration owing money to Clydesdale Bank. | Supplier, Direct Technology Solutions Ltd, then went into administration owing money to Clydesdale Bank. |
| Suffolk County Council wants to replace the governors with an executive board. | |
| The school's head teacher has been suspended since January over the affair. | The school's head teacher has been suspended since January over the affair. |
| The school said at that time the contract it signed meant it was liable for the lease and owed the money to Clydesdale Bank. | The school said at that time the contract it signed meant it was liable for the lease and owed the money to Clydesdale Bank. |
| Chair of governor Duncan Grafen said said there had been a perceived lack of support from Suffolk County Council. | Chair of governor Duncan Grafen said said there had been a perceived lack of support from Suffolk County Council. |
| 'Acting in best interests' | 'Acting in best interests' |
| He said: "The governing body has been proactive in our support for the school community, the staff and council officers. | He said: "The governing body has been proactive in our support for the school community, the staff and council officers. |
| "We find it unfortunate that this proactive position has not been reciprocated. | "We find it unfortunate that this proactive position has not been reciprocated. |
| "We believe that at all times we have acted in the best interests of the school and in accordance with our duties to ensure proper accountability for and control over the use of public funds. | "We believe that at all times we have acted in the best interests of the school and in accordance with our duties to ensure proper accountability for and control over the use of public funds. |
| "We have sought to comply with all requests received from the authority." | "We have sought to comply with all requests received from the authority." |
| A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said: "Local education authorities have powers of intervention when schools cause concern. | A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said: "Local education authorities have powers of intervention when schools cause concern. |
| "In relation to Glemsford Primary School, we are currently following the appropriate legal processes to put in place an Interim Executive Board which will take on all of the responsibilities of the governing body. | "In relation to Glemsford Primary School, we are currently following the appropriate legal processes to put in place an Interim Executive Board which will take on all of the responsibilities of the governing body. |
| "The governing body has been issued with the appropriate warning notice. | "The governing body has been issued with the appropriate warning notice. |
| "We are currently in the middle of an internal and police investigation involving the school and as such, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage." | "We are currently in the middle of an internal and police investigation involving the school and as such, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage." |