School debates application
An application by the Bay of Islands International Academy to expand has been met with opposition from Kerikeri High School.
The academy, based at Te Tii, has children from years 1-8, applied to the Ministry of Education on March 31 to expand to include up to year 10 students.
Kerikeri High School has since made a submission to the ministry opposing the reclassification of the academy.
Kerikeri Board of Trustees chairperson Sue Richards says the submission was mostly based around concerns for children who may no longer be able to attend to the high school if the changes to the academy went ahead.
‘‘We are not feeling threatened, it is always about the kids and it always has been,’’ Richards says.
In the submission it says changes to the academy would drive a zoning wedge between the Te Tii community, Ngati Rehia, Whitiora and Hiruharama Marae and Kerikeri High School.
Another concern for the high school is that year 9 and 10 students, from Te Tii, would likely not be eligible for the free bus service to attend Kerikeri High School - provided by the Kerikeri Schools’ Transport Network - as they would be within 4.8km of a school offering classes at their level.
‘‘It’s not about us losing students, it’s about students that might not be able to come to our school because of the zone change. If they are not able to come they may miss out, particularly on a lot of sporting codes that they won’t be able to play in.’’
Bay of Islands International Academy Board of Trustees chairperson Donald Chandler says the school’s parent community, as well as the wider Kerikeri, Waipapa and surrounding area have indicated strong interest in having another public secondary school choice.
‘‘Some parents tell us they think sending children to high school at year seven is too early, but they hesitate to send their children to us just for years seven and eight...we wish to expand to year 10 to serve a need clearly and vocally communicated to us by our local and wider community.’’
‘‘Any issues around bus transport can be solved by a community where local schools and carriers work together.’’
A decision around their application is expected later this year. If successful, year nine and ten students can be enrolled to start in term one, 2018.