Board axed at troubled school

By STUART DYE

A defiant Alison Annan will arrive in court this morning in a bid to get her job back as principal of Cambridge High School after the Government sacked the school's board.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard axed the board of trustees yesterday and took steps to replace it with a commissioner in another dramatic blow for the Waikato school.

A scathing report by the Education Review Office found a "substantial number of governance practices either did not comply with legislation or were unacceptable or of poor quality".

Students' welfare and education were at risk, buildings were unsafe, curriculum resources were inadequately funded, the board was failing to provide a safe working environment and it had given too much control to Mrs Annan, said the report.

Mr Mallard appointed two limited statutory managers last month, removing some of the board's powers.

In the aftermath, Mrs Annan announced her resignation.

But she will confront the Employment Relations Authority today, arguing that she did not resign, merely signalled her intention to do so, and should still be leading the school.

Mr Mallard yesterday refused to comment on the case while it was before the court.

The full ERO report is not due out until next month, but Mr Mallard said because of the serious nature of governance issues raised it would be irresponsible not to act immediately.

There were reasonable grounds to believe there was a risk to the operation of the school, and potentially to the welfare and educational performance of its students, should the existing board remain, he said.

The ERO also believed the present board did "not have the capability to address the issues raised", he said.

"I have not taken this decision lightly, but I consider it is essential that this school and its community urgently move on in a positive way so Cambridge High School students can receive the quality of education they are entitled to."