Ministry backs off Fraser takeover

Possible plans by the Education Ministry to appoint a commissioner to Hamilton's Fraser High School were rebuffed by supporters at an emergency meeting last night.

The New Zealand School Trustees Association and local Education Ministry representatives threw their weight behind the school's board of trustees and its limited statutory manager, John Carlyon, appointed to the school earlier this year following allegations of funding misuse by former principal Martin Elliott.

A ministry-appointed commissioner was a possibility to replace the current management team at the Waikato's largest secondary school and be responsible for running it.

The Waikato Times understands the closed-door meeting was a desperate attempt by the board to keep the school within its control after Mr Elliott resigned earlier this month.

The meeting, which the Times was turned away from, was to discuss the future direction of the school and involved Education Ministry officials, local representatives, the School Trustees Association and the board of trustees. It came a day in advance of the board's normal meeting.

It is understood the Education Ministry planned to install a commissioner before the meeting was held.

In a statement today, Fraser High School board of trustees chairman Paul Willard confirmed that, as a result of the meeting, the Education Ministry had "neither increased or decreased" its level of involvement with the school.

"With a huge amount of assistance from the School Trustees Association and local ministry office, we have secured the current constitution at Hamilton's Fraser High School," he said.

"John Carlyon and the limited statutory management team will continue to provide excellent service to the greater community and students at Hamilton's Fraser High School."

Mr Willard said the New Zealand School Trustees Association and Hamilton-based ministry representatives had been "nothing but supportive" of the school.

Mr Carlyon, the New Zealand School Trustees Association employment relations adviser Peter Murphy and the Education Ministry were unavailable for comment.

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