Public schools face a potentially traumatic time as more than 40 teachers undergo transfers this summer, union leader Mike Charles warned yesterday.Mr Charles said the switches planned represent the biggest shake-up since Bermuda adopted its middle school system in 1997.But he insisted the changes will be positive in the long run, as a move to introduce permanent deputy principals will increase stability and improve morale.“Every summer we have transfers, but not on this scale,” the Bermuda Union of Teachers general secretary told The Royal Gazette. “We are talking in the region of 40-something positions being changed. It’s quite a bit for a system of our size.“You are talking about 18 primary schools and five middle schools. That kind of movement could be traumatic.“Not many people like change, but as professionals we have to look to embrace it and move forward doing the best for the students because that’s what we are here for.“Upheaval can be a painful business if staff have been together for a long while, it can almost be like the break-up of a family, but we have to professional and remember we are here to do a job.”Mr Charles said the transfers, which the Ministry says will affect every public school on the Island, are a knock-on effect of the appointment of 25 new deputy principals.“The fact that we now have permanent and appointed deputy principals is something the union wanted for a long time. That in itself is considered a plus,” he said.“It will give us more stability for children and our teachers. Also, a deputy principal in the past could have worked for ten, 12, 14 years and when it comes to retire, you retire on a teacher’s salary. That’s not fair and we wanted to address that.“Having addressed that, it’s created another effect where people have successfully applied for deputy principals in other schools, meaning they have to be replaced.“We are hoping the changes will benefit the system. In some cases, certain positions will be allotted to do more than teach. They will be helping their colleagues professionally, which will hopefully improve teaching and learning.”In recent months, parents at TN Tatem Middle School and Victor Scott Primary School have been protesting plans to switch popular principals without consultation, claiming it will break the learning continuity.The Ministry has said no talks with parents took place before the latest round of transfers were announced.Asked how parents would view the new moves, Mr Charles said: “That’s left to be seen.“I don’t know how it will affect the parents in any way because next term, especially at primary school level, students will be moving to another class anyway.“So even if the teachers weren’t being transferred, the students would still be having a new teacher.”