‘Complaining parents’ an issue in some school interventions
Complaining parents and difficult relationships are among the issues behind current Ministry of Education interventions at four Southland schools.
Limited statutory managers have taken over some of the powers of the Board of Trustees at Garston School, Limehills School and St Peter’s College, while a commissioner has taken over the role of the Board of Trustees, whose members resigned, at Lochiel School.
Ministry of Education south leader Nancy Bell said a small number of schools developed difficulties or had unanticipated events they could not resolve without outside help.
“Where we do step in, an intervention aims to bring expertise and a fresh perspective.
“The aim of any intervention is always to return the school to full self-management as soon as the recommendations of the intervention have been met.”
Ben Nettleton, appointed as limited statutory manager of Garston School in northern Southland in October, said there had been issues in the community around “parent complaints and bits and pieces” and he would assist the board in working through some of those aspects.
A specialist in alternative dispute resolution, he said: “There were some challenges that were long standing in the community.
“The board asked the ministry for some support.”
Nettleton, who cited privacy as a reason not to reveal specifics of the complaints, said he was working with the board members and his aim was to return the powers back to the board as soon as possible.
Another limited statutory manager, Kate Keddell, was appointed to Limehills School, near Winton, in January.
Keddell, whose background was in mediation, said the issues at Limehills School were around “relationships”.
She also cited privacy as the reason not to elaborate. “I am in there to facilitate good relationships between the stakeholders in the community and the school.
“Things are constructive and everyone is really focused on getting the best results for the school.”
Rural schools were somewhat isolated and limited statutory managers could give them additional support and advice, she said.
St Peter’s College in Gore had been under a limited statutory manager [lawyer Nicola Hornsey] since March 2023.
She had been assigned to deal with tensions between the principal Tara Quinney and the board, specifically former chair Ruth Mitchell.
An intervention was also in place at Lochiel School, where the the board of trustees resigned and a commissioner, Gabrielle Wall, was appointed.
Lochiel School’s outgoing board chair, Amy McStay, in a message to parents announcing the board’s resignation in March, said Wall’s specific priorities would be “the structure of teaching and learning and providing a wide range of opportunities for learners, alongside maintaining the effective governance of Lochiel School”.