Lochiel School’s board resigns

The board of trustees at Lochiel School in Southland has resigned, and a commissioner has been appointed to take their place.

Dr Gabrielle Wall has been appointed as the commissioner by the Secretary for Education and will govern the primary school, near Winton.

Outgoing Lochiel School board chairperson Amy McStay, in a note to the school community announcing the board’s resignation on March 27, said it was one way of actioning changes for the benefit of its learners.

“Gabrielle’s priorities will be the sustainability of our school, specifically the structure of teaching and learning and providing a wide range of opportunities for learners, alongside maintaining the effective governance of Lochiel School,” her statement said.

McStay declined to comment to Stuff ,as did principal Mary Miller, with both referring questions to Wall.

Wall declined to reveal further details of the issues facing the school that led to her appointment, saying she was getting to know the community and understand how to support the school.

She was appointed as the limited statutory manager at Lochiel School in January before being appointed as its commissioner.

She said the board supported the change to a commissioner, and her role would include being an employer.

She would develop a plan to address the issues and restore the school to selfgovernance as soon as practicable.

“My key focus will be to work with the school management team, staff, students and parents,” she said.

Her “action plan” would include finding out the community’s expectations for the school, and planning for staffing for the rest of the 2024 school year.

Wall, who had previously served on several education-related boards and in a range of statutory appointments, said she would work closely with the principal, and advise and consult with the school community.

Her appointment as a commissioner would not affect the day-to-day running of the school and it would not affect staff, she said. “It is like having a school board made up of one person.”

The Ministry of Education would review Wall’s appointment as commissioner within the first year, and every year thereafter.

The school would return to selfgovernance when the secretary for education was satisfied the commissioner was no longer required.

Lochiel School is a full primary school near Winton, with 69 students.