Principals in stoush with boards

Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association president Pat Newman

The Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association is threatening to create a public blacklist of schools where it deems the boards are "out of control".

However, the association has been blasted by the advisers of boards for circulating "snide and unproven allegations".

New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) president Lorraine Kerr said creating a blacklist would do nothing positive for education in Northland.

Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association president Pat Newman said there had been concerns for a number of years about school boards that had acted in an "unacceptable" manner towards a number of principals.

"A simple list published on, for instance, our website, would certainly inform people to be wary about applying," he said.

Mr Newman said he was not referring to schools where the boards had moved on the principal for valid reasons.

"I am talking about those that have a history of what I refer to as unethical, and totally unacceptable practice, usually involving more than just one principal," he said.

"We are not talking about a large number of schools, but I am putting the few that seem to believe the normal rules and accepted practice of governance and management don't belong to them, on notice."

The Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association is an elected association representing primary and intermediate principals in Northland.

NZSTA president Lorraine Kerr said the statements by Mr Newman about boards were ill placed and risky behaviour.

"The association through Pat Newman does no one any favours, including members of its organisation, by persisting in snide and unproven allegations about boards of trustees," Ms Kerr said.

In an instance where a principal was alleged to have behaved badly then boards could hardly be blamed for taking action, she said.

"Emotive claims of 'out of control' boards and persecution of principals do not, and will not, substitute for facts, Ms Kerr said.

"Boards taking action in these circumstances are certainly not 'out of control', but quite the reverse."

Making such a list would not do anything positive for Northland and discredit the Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association, she said.