Yesterday, 11 school principals paid tribute to Borja during the farewell ceremony prepared by the commissioner’s staff at the Public School System’s central office on Capital Hill.
Kagman High School principal Alfred Ada said: “It still shocking news for me! It’s one of those things that I never expect. What comes next? It is interesting to know what comes next for PSS.”
Although he acknowledges the authority of the Board of Education, Ada said the “reasons” for Borja’s retirement remain “unclear” to many of them.
“I know that they are the governing body so whatever the decision they want to make, we respect that. I just hope that somebody will come out and explain to us for our understanding because right now the reasons are quite unclear,” he added.
Koblerville Elementary School principal Eric Evangelista said he was surprised by the board’s decision.
“The board made the decision…something that we us principals should respect. But it really surprised us…and we’re still in shock,” he said, refusing to comment further.
Dandan Elementary School principal Jonas Barcinas said Borja’s departure is a loss for PSS.
“It’s a loss for us as PSS family for the fact that we’re already moving forward and we’re reaching our peak as a system. Now we have to deal with this — I am afraid for PSS,” Barcinas said.
PSS, he added, has lost a “great leader.”
A principal who refused to be named said the board made “a poor decision.”
“It’s a sad day for us. For me, it’s a bad and poor decision for our children,” the principal said.
Two program managers, who also requested anonymity, said “many of us are now afraid that this will be the start of the board’s micro-managing the system.”
Other principals believe that Borja was “victimized” by some of the board members’ “vested interests.”
“We’re just hoping that the board is going through the right path and direction for PSS,” one of them said.
