The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), co-founder of Hong Kong International School (HKIS), has launched its own search for a new school head amid an ongoing legal dispute with the operator. HKIS management described the move as designed to create distraction and uncertainty. LCMS cited risks to leadership continuity as the reason.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) revealed its search for a new head of school in a letter to parents on Sunday from Hong Kong International School (HKIS) management, which described the effort as part of church actions “designed to create distraction and uncertainty around the school.”
LCMS, which co-founded HKIS in 1966, confirmed to the South China Morning Post that it was conducting the recruitment, stating “leadership uncertainty is disruptive for students and families.” The school is operated by Hong Kong International School Association Limited (HKISAL).
The move follows LCMS's lawsuit against HKIS last September, alleging breach of an operational agreement, serving only the “rich and privileged few,” and amassing excessive financial reserves.
“To protect student welfare and ensure a smooth transition, we gave nearly a year’s notice and scheduled the head of school change between school years,” LCMS said. “Before any litigation, we asked HKISAL to lead the search, but with no process under way and the risks to leadership continuity growing, we acted to begin the search ourselves.”
