The charter school and the KFC claims
Ministry investigates angry parents’ claims of fast-food incentives
Fried chicken, pizza and cakes were used as rewards to keep a handle on spiralling student behaviour, according to angry parents and teachers from a new charter school.
The claims, and further concerns about behaviour policy, bullying, lack of cultural awareness, safety and drugs at Middle School West Auckland, are under investigation by the Ministry of Education.
About 40 children attend the Henderson school, which opened in January. It shares a location with private Maori school Nga Kakano and teaches Years 7 to 10.
Complaints about the school were sent to its board, with some then forwarded to government officials after a perceived lack of action.
“The present leadership . . . is found wanting,” said a letter written by Veronica Allen, a Maori educator who came from Nga Kakano to help at MSWA.
“In fact the method used is an appease system where students are bought pizza, hot chips, cakes and then taken on trips to the beach or unrelated outings to keep them happy and engaged.”
Mrs Allen said that on average, each year level had been fed takeaways four times over three weeks, with some promised KFC if they scored well on behaviour tracking sheets.
Another staff member wrote to the Education Review Office, saying the behaviour policy “highlights a lack of leadership management and lack of effective teaching practices”.
The staff member informed ERO that bullying was rife at the school, and that there was drug use. She said one student had attempted suicide. Students were ejected from class, and left in the hallway with no supervision.
“This has led to a fight breaking out between students, students removing fire extinguishers from the wall and using them against other students.”
The letter, which included a draft of an ERO report, showed officials also had their own concerns around at-risk children, leadership, safety and responsiveness to Te Reo, marking those as “areas to be addressed”. That report is yet to be made public.
Katrina Casey, head of the ministry’s sector enablement and support, said the school’s sponsor, Villa Education Trust, had confirmed there had not been any instances of drugs or bullying or any suicide attempt by a student at Middle School.
She said it contacted the school when it received a parent letter, and had attended meetings with those concerned to discuss their issues. A plan was in place, she said. “The Middle School has assured us they will work to ensure their ap- proach includes all of its students, their identity, language and culture and have committed to holding whanau hui and professional development for staff.”
Other correspondence seen by the Herald showed parents were also unhappy with the new set-up, with at least 15 signing a letter to the board with their concerns.
On top of behavioural issues and safety problems, they said their culture was not being honoured. Almost all of the children at the school are Maori.
Villa Education Trust, did not respond to emails or calls by the Herald about these concerns.
However, Education Minister Hekia Parata confirmed she received correspondence from a parent on July 6. She has asked the Ministry of Education to look into it and is awaiting the outcome of its investigations.
Act MP David Seymour, who has oversight of charter schools, said he was also advised of the concerns about Te Reo and cultural focus but understood the school was dealing with it.
ERO said it had received the comments made on its draft report. It said it had placed the comments on the school’s file and would discuss them during the new school assurance review process.
Charter schools are meant to focus on the Government’s priority groups: Maori, Pasifika, low socioeconomic groups and special needs children.
Villa Education’s initial assessment by the ministry said while it understood barriers for those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, it “did not always demonstrate ... competency in educating Maori and Pasifika students”.