Wendy calls time on trustee effort
When Wendy Eyles started as a Board of Trustees member at Fergusson Intermediate her twin boys were at primary school.
They are now 22 and, until recently, their mother remained a BoT stalwart.
The trustee chair at Fergusson since 2004, Eyles has been a central figure representing Upper Hutt in educational issues, big and not so big.
These include the four years of a controversial government ‘‘network review’’ where schooling looked set for fundamental overhaul with closures and a combined middle and senior years college with 3000 students on a single site.
A consequence of this was a total freeze on property spending at Upper Hutt’s colleges and two intermediates.
Eyles was part of a government-led working group which investigated future education needs in Upper Hutt.
‘‘For four long years we were supposedly coming up with an alternative structure for Year 7 to 13 for the community.
‘‘Then, without giving their reasons, they decided the status quo was fine,’’ the mother of four said.
Eyles could see its educational merit but believed the Upper Hutt community was never accurately informed about the research or the group’s recommendations.
‘‘The rumour mill ran riot and a lot of people were up in arms about a ‘super school which was never on the agenda. It was hard because we weren’t allowed to say anything publicly,’’ she said.
The non-decision led to the rebuild of the rundown local schools with more than $40 millon spent in the following years.
Eyles was also part of the combined opposition to the introduction of national standards .
‘‘I’m staying involved with the cluster because of that, because of the concern I have about the damage the Government is doing with its education policies,’’ she said.
Her decision to not stand again at the recent three-yearly trustee elections marks a big change in her life.
‘‘I’m glad I’ve done it,’’ the Hutt Hospital nurse said . ’’It was difficult to not stand again. You develop a real passion for education and the issues. New Zealand deserves a quality public education.
‘‘I started this because I was concerned for my children’s education and now I’m concerned for my future grandchildren. I’d like to see them get the same opportunities,’’ she said.
Eyles recommends people get involved with schools, either as a trustee or in any way they can.
‘‘It’s important and it’s rewarding. You meet some great people,’’ she said.