School's issues being worked through

Kea St Specialist School. Photo / Stephen Parker

Issues that saw Kea St Specialist School's board of trustees dissolved are still being worked through, nearly two years after the Ministry of Education stepped in.

But if the Rotorua school sustains its current progress, a new board could be in place by next year.

Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said the commissioner was still needed at the school.

"We first intervened at Kea St Specialist School in September 2014, appointing Jack Hourigan as a limited statutory manager to support the board of trustees in relation to issues they were having with employment, communication, finances and board systems and processes.

"In 2015 Mr Hourigan took on the role of commissioner after a unanimous request from the school's board to have the ministry take over the governance role of the board. The board was then dissolved.

"Mr Hourigan has been working through a range of issues that were identified by the Education Review Office in its February 2015 report. He has implemented a thorough staff appraisal system and continues to manage the business operations of the school, including the development of a strategic plan. While there has been progress, not all the issues at the school have been resolved. But Mr Hourigan has indicated that if current progress is sustained the school could be ready for board elections by the end of the year."

Principal Sherie Collins said Mr Hourigan had been keeping parents up to date.