KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a dramatic demonstration of institutional discord, the entire executive committee of Ardenne Preparatory and Extension High School’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has tendered its immediate resignation. The mass departure stems from profound disagreements with the school’s governing board regarding financial transparency, administrative communication, and overall governance practices.
The rupture follows months of strained relations between the PTA and school administration, culminating in a contentious proposal to raise term fees to $150,000 for preparatory students and $130,000 for extension division attendees starting January 2026. School authorities justified the increases as necessary measures to address rising operational costs, including teacher compensation, technological resources, and facility maintenance, which they stated have created a growing budgetary deficit.
According to the resignation letter disseminated to the school community on Thursday, the PTA executive accused the board of exhibiting ‘complete disregard’ for collaborative dialogue during fee adjustment negotiations. Particularly galling to the resigning members was the board’s decision to communicate the fee changes directly to parents via email, effectively bypassing a prearranged meeting between the board chair and PTA leadership.
The departing executive highlighted critical concerns regarding financial accountability, noting the absence of a clear strategic plan demonstrating how the increased revenue would enhance the institution’s long-term financial sustainability. Parents remain uncertain about potential future increases as the school provided no transparency regarding the scale or timing of additional fee adjustments.
Despite their resignation, the outgoing committee reaffirmed strong support for teaching and administrative staff, emphasizing the need for competitive salary structures to attract and retain qualified professionals. In a gesture of continued commitment to school improvement, the executive confirmed the transfer of $304,913 in net proceeds from the December 2025 Christmas Concert to their successors. These funds, originally designated for the Resource Centre project transformation, will support the ongoing redevelopment of the former school library facilities.