More porn checks on principal's PC

Tim Jenkinson

Further checks will be carried out on a primary school principal's computer to investigate how much pornography he had been looking at.

Bayview principal Tim Jenkinson was given a written warning after a routine upgrade of the school's computer system uncovered adult pornography on his work computer. The board of trustees was meeting at the Glenfield school last night to discuss the matter. It is understood a notice will go out to parents this morning to update them on the situation.

Board spokesman Lance Hadley refused to answer questions last night and did not respond to written queries from the Herald.

But before the meeting, board chairman Paul Apperley said Mr Jenkinson's fate depended on advice the board received from the Ministry of Education and School Trustees Association.

"In all honesty, the damage is done now. The fall-out is massive for the guy. He's absolutely done and dusted, really."

Mr Apperley said there were further checks being done on Mr Jenkinson's computer. However, he also said there had been a lot of supportive messages from parents at the school.

"He's been there for 12 years and on balance there's been a lot of good that has gone in and it is unfortunate that it is overshadowed by something so that it looks really one-sided now."

Mr Jenkinson's wife, Vicki, has said her husband does not remember accessing pornography and was getting professional help to recall it.

Parents who spoke to the Herald had a mixed reaction to the news.

Liz Reid said three of her four children went to Bayview and she fully supported Mr Jenkinson.

"He took the punishment dealt to him and just when he is finally past all that the newspapers have to start up a witch hunt which will either pressure him into quitting or the board into reviewing things."

However, another parent, Jaki Recchia, said it was wrong for a principal to have pornography on a computer at school and was considering removing her 9-year-old daughter from the school.

The Ministry of Education said it supported the school and the board in its decision.

Principals' Federation president Pat Newman said last night he didn't believe Mr Jenkinson should be stood down.

"I sent an email to Tim to tell him that people were thinking of him, knowing he would be going through a difficult day on Monday, and that we understood that the board had appropriately dealt with the issue," he said.

- Additional reporting by Maggie McNaughton