KEY POINTS:
Calls for a specialist commissioner to oversee a Maori immersion school in the Far North follow a damning Education Review Office (ERO) report.
The ERO report lists problems of bullying, cheating and financial issues at the school, and recommends the board of trustees at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe be dissolved, the New Zealand Herald reported today.
The report has caused shockwaves in the Far North, with community leader Sonny Tau emailing school associates yesterday saying the report "makes shocking reading".
A police spokeswoman said a complaint about a "sexual activity" against a senior staff member, who the board of trustees suspended from the school, was investigated but had been reported outside the statute of limitations.
In response to the ERO report, the board said it inherited an "organisational disaster" when elected last year and could not reconcile its knowledge of the kura with much of the ERO's observations.
The board - chaired by Vanessa Whiu - wanted to remain and did not want a commissioner to be appointed.
"No one could have made any more progress in the past 12 months than this board," it wrote.
"To appoint a commissioner at this time would set the school back 12 months."
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Chris Carter said he was considering the matter.
The kura, a decile one school, has about 185 students ranging from new entrants to Year 13 students and 19 teachers.
A new board was elected last year and in April the ministry reported the financial position of the school had improved.
The ERO report said students appeared keen to learn and New Zealand Qualifications Authority data showed improvement between 2004 and 2006 in students' NCEA participation.
It said one staff member was seen speaking "inappropriately" to children in class and some former students, parents and teachers reported physical, emotional and text bullying of students.
- NZPA
