School intervention to remain
However, after 16 months of statutory intervention, the Ministry of Education (MoE) says the primary school still needs support, so the intervention will continue.
MoE acting hautū (leader) Te Tai Runga (south) Andrea Williams said the commissioner would remain until a new principal and board were in place, with the principal's appointment crucial to the school's recovery.
The school has been under management since March 2024 following staff departures, a board resignation and parent withdrawals.
Commissioner Cleave Hay was appointed by the ministry in March last year as limited statutory manager after issues arising at the school were brought to the ministry in January 2024.
He said the new principal would be a key factor in restoring the school back to its former roll and staffing.
"The new principal will be a key determinant in where Totara School goes over the next few years as far as the work to restore the school, but how long the regrowth will take is hard to tell.
The rural school was funded for 72 pupils last year. The roll is now sitting at 20, after plummeting as low as 17 earlier this year.
The school had two classroom teachers, a relief principal and two part-time teacher aides at present and also employed an administrator and a part-time caretaker, Mr Hay said.
Last month, principal Sandra Spekreijse resigned after six months of mystery leave while "still employed" following a "playground incident".
Mrs Spekreijse was appointed principal in 2021.
A MoE-led report delivered by Mr Hay last year stated the ongoing operation of the school was caused by issues at the school around relational trust, governance and management of relationships, communication breakdowns and pupils leaving.
Mr Hay said after many "community consultations" it had been established the new principal was key to the future success of the school".
Sam Winterbourn took over as acting principal at the school in November last year, after Mrs Spekreijse left on indeterminate leave following an investigation into a playground incident in which a junior pupil was allegedly attacked by a senior pupil.
While the results of the investigation remained confidential, last month Mr Hay said internal processes had been implemented at the school.
Relief principal Judy Elvidge has been acting principal since early February this year, when the roll was 17.
Under her guidance, the school roll has risen to 20.
Mr Hay said there had been "no real changes" at the school while the recruitment process was under way.
Mrs Elvidge would remain acting principal until a new principal was appointed, Mr Hay said.
While it was hopeful to have a new principal start at the beginning of term four, that would be negotiable, he said.
"I want the best appointee, it's not just about the timing," he said.
Ideally, he would prefer the new principal to start before electing new board members, Mr Hay said.
"The ministry still have to agree that there should be a board established upon my recommendation.
Mr Hay, who has taken responsibility for employment, communications and policy establishment at Totara School since the intervention, said he had held monthly governance meetings with the acting principal.
"We have had a reasonable amount of people come along to those meetings, and parents who are showing an interest.
"I don't think there will be a problem gaining enough interest to re-establish a board there."
He said the school was in "very good heart" and those who were there were "very supportive".
jules.chin@odt.co.nz
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