Principal Mason to leave

MOVING ON: Masterton Intermediate School principal Kara Mason. PHOTO/FILE PHOTO

Kara Mason is standing down as principal of Masterton Intermediate School.

Ms Mason started as principal at the school in October 2011, replacing Frazer Mailman, who had been in the role for 21 years.

Mark Brown, MIS Board of Trustees chairman, said the search had begun for a replacement for Ms Mason, who had been an exemplary principal.

Ms Mason had previously spent eight years teaching at Roslyn School in Palmerston North, where she had risen to the position of deputy principal before shifting to Masterton.

Mr Brown said Ms Mason had tendered her resignation at the monthly board meeting in February and the board had met Monday night and begun the procedure that will lead to the appointment of her replacement at the decile 5 school.

"We've got timeframes we have to work through before we interview applicants, and while we would like to have a replacement as soon as possible, it will take weeks rather than days and we are at the start of the process now."

The MIS roll had fallen to 344 pupils, Mr Brown said, which had been consequent to a drop in numbers from contributing schools.

"It's certainly down on previous years, but you have fluctuations with feeder schools. I do know the projection moving forward is that the roll will increase due to Year 5 and 6s being up on the past few years."