School manager in place

BY RICHARD EDMONDSON

Violent students and weak discipline at Whangaroa College have forced the government to take over the running of the Kaeo secondary school.

The education secretary has appointed a limited statutory manager at the college after the Education Review Office urged "significant intervention" in the interests of effective governance.

Review office staff who visited the college in July said more than half the staff felt unsafe because of students’ or staff behaviour.

"Although the board has a comprehensive range of policies, procedures, systems and strategies in place to promote students’ well-being and safety, the implementation of these is inconsistent," said chief review officer Dr Graham Stoop in his report on the visit.

The board had demonstrated that it could not provide a safe environment for staff and students, he said.

"It is the office’s view that significant intervention is required to govern the school effectively."

Education secretary spokesman Rawiri Brell says statutory manager Alison Collett is a former secondary school principal experienced in facilitating change in rural Northland schools.

Ms Collett will work collaboratively with the board, principal Nicolette Pako and community to ensure local capability is built for effective governance and management in the future, he says.

"The board must take into consideration advice given by the limited statutory manager on any matter relating to powers and duties of the board that have been vested in the manager."

Mr Brell could not say how long Ms Collett would remain at the school.

"The limited statutory manager intervention may be revoked by the education minister when she is satisfied that areas the Education Review Office has identified for improvement are addressed. The powers vested in the limited statutory manager will then be returned to the board."

Board chairman David Hemi says he is not authorised to talk to the media while Ms Collett was at the school.

However, a parent with connections to the school welcomed the intervention.

The parent, who did not wish to be named, says the school needed to adopt and consistently enforce a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, alcohol, smoking, verbal abuse and violence.

The school board and management also needed to communicate better with the community about how they were addressing problems at the college.

"Burying their heads in the sand and pretending there isn’t a problem, is not constructive."

Students would also benefit from more effective teachers.

"The problem is that until the school improves, no one wants to work there, but until they get new teachers in, nothing will change. It’s a catch 22 situation."

- © Fairfax NZ News