Staff are in the dark about the outcome of a review into a controversial assembly when school boys were asked to stand in a gesture of apology for males' behaviour towards women in March.
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Multiple teachers from Brauer College in Warrnambool told The Standard they had lost faith in the Department of Education's process after the review had taken four months, and because of a breakdown in communication about it with staff.
"It doesn't matter which way it falls, it's about some resolution for the school so we can move forward," one teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said
It comes as 39 teachers have attempted to take matters into their own hands, signing a petition that stated they had lost confidence in school assistant principal Anthony Jones.
The teachers, who are also disappointed there has been no formal apology to staff, were unable to table the petition with the school's council because they were told the review was ongoing.
Mr Jones led the school assembly in March and is now undertaking duties away from the school with the department's regional office while the matter remains unresolved. Mr Jones was unable to comment.
An Education Department spokesman said a review into circumstances associated with the assembly had been undertaken but he would not comment further on when any outcome would be known to staff or the parties involved.
"The department and school have already acknowledged that this part of the assembly was inappropriate. The school contacted parents at the time to explain the reasons behind the assembly and to ensure that any student who required support was aware that it is available," he said.
"Following the identification of issues associated with the assembly, senior staff from the department's regional office have been supporting the college in its work to improve its responsiveness to the wellbeing needs of students."
The assembly followed at least one incident of inappropriate language involving a boy at the school and was amid sexual assault and gender equity making national headlines, fuelling a push for better sexual consent education in schools.
But parents, teachers and students responded with horror and disgust following the assembly, pointing out the gesture painted all boys as perpetrators and was insensitive to some boys being victims of sexual assault.
Staff also spoke about a "toxic culture" for them at the school in the past 18 months, amplified by feelings of embarrassment following the assembly.
"Many staff are leaving and applying for other jobs. It's just snowballed," another teacher said.
Brauer College principal Jane Boyle said she was unable to comment.