Ex-principal to fight in court to get her job back

By STUART DYE

Alison Annan could have her job back by the end of the week as the Cambridge High School saga takes another twist.

The controversial principal, who announced she was stepping down amid reports of NCEA cheating and allegations of bullying staff, will ask the courts to reinstate her.

She claims she only signalled her intention to resign and never officially left her post.

The school is under the control of acting principal Jim Bennett, who was appointed by the Board of Trustees, and two limited statutory managers appointed by Education Minister Trevor Mallard.

Mrs Annan's lawyer, Nikki Rice, confirmed the former principal wanted to be reinstated as an interim measure until the issue was resolved at a full hearing later in the year.

At that time, said Ms Rice, Mrs Annan would seek full reinstatement as principal of the Waikato school.

"She has thought long and hard about her options. She was under intense pressure for a number of reasons and was in a very distressed state [when she announced her resignation]. But she never gave a date of resignation or did anything pursuant to the procedures of resigning."

Ms Rice has filed papers with the Employment Relations Authority for a hearing on Friday morning. The claim is against the Board of Trustees and Dennis Finn, one of the limited statutory managers.

If successful, Mrs Annan, who declined to speak to the Herald, would find herself working alongside Mr Finn.

Yesterday, Mr Finn said Mrs Annan was entitled to work through the legal process "and we respect that".

But he said the school had not changed its position on where Mrs Annan stood.

He had earlier written to Mrs Annan assuring her that her resignation had been accepted.

There have been rumours that Mrs Annan would take action against the nature of her leaving Cambridge High, but few imagined she would try to win back her job.


Sarah Fine, a former chairwoman and member of the Parent Teacher Association, said she would love to see Mrs Annan return.

Ms Fine said many people would say "let sleeping dogs lie" in the name of stability, but many more would back Mrs Annan.


But Allan Booth, who has had four sons go to the school, said there could be no way back.

"Some of her behaviour has been disgraceful and the school needs new blood now to get it back on the right track. It needs to move forward, not backwards."