BELOW IS THE FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WBS BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Waitaki Boys’ High School Board of Trustees MEDIA RELEASE – embargoed until midnight 8 August 8 August 2014 Board releases report addressing issues at WBHS Waitaki Boys’ High School Board of Trustees has publicly released the report they commissioned from Dunedin-based independent consultant Cleave Hay. The released report is a redacted version in accordance with legal advice to protect the privacy of individuals. The Board commissioned the report from Mr Hay in June following concerns raised by some parents, teachers and others in the school community about the administration and management of the school. Board chairman, Garry McLeod, said since receiving the report the Board has been reflecting on the issues and working on the process of implementing Mr Hay’s recommendations. “Although the Board took issue with some aspects of the report, all of the report’s recommendations were accepted without amendment and we have since been focusing on how we can move things forward. Now that we have had the time necessary to reflect on the issues and to get underway with implementing the recommendations, we have released the report to the wider community.” Actions taken by the Board since receiving the report include holding discussions with those who have the expertise needed to assist them in the process, as well as welcoming two new members to the Board, Mr McLeod said. “The Board has put a lot of work into progressing this over the past month. We believe we now have a team of people with the expertise in the education sector and respect within the local community to help us work through each of the recommendations and take Waitaki Boys’ High School to a better place.” “There are of course differing views within the school community around the validity or seriousness of some of the issues raised, however, the Board is taking the recommendations very seriously and acting on them accordingly.” The Board will also be considering other recommendations to come from the Education Review Office, who are due to conduct a scheduled review of the school this month, and School Trustees’ Association. These will be considered alongside Mr Hay’s report. Mr McLeod noted that despite the issues raised in the report, the school’s results have improved and Waitaki Boys’ High School is still one of the highest achieving boys’ schools in New Zealand. “The issues raised should not overshadow the fact that student achievement at the school is at a high level and improving. Although this doesn’t in any way diminish the seriousness of the issues that have been raised by the school community or within the report, it is something the school and its boys should be very proud of.” Ends Appendix: Report recommendations, responsibilities & timeframes Responsibilities with regards to recommendations from a report prepared for WBHS by Cleave Hay: 1. Contracting an appropriate person/s to fully investigate all the reported matters (independent people with authority delegated by the WBHS Board). a. Board representatives - Garry McLeod, Maree Thompson, Phil Hope b. Educational expertise - Michael Corkery c. Local North Otago independent person - Alan McLay Completion date 30 September 2014 2. A review of all school based systems (covered by ERO review). ERO will be dealing with this recommendation Completion date 15 August 2014 of ERO review, the Board will then need to consider ERO’s report 3. A full review of employment processes. Maree Thompson, Lynne Guy (NZSTA) and Jane Pridham (NZSTA) Completion date 30 September 2014 4. A full review of staff welfare Maree Thompson and Tom Scollard Completion date 30 September 2014 5. A full review of student welfare Will be dealt with in conjunction with recommendation #1 6. To be co-ordinated by the Board chair, Garry McLeod – part of the redacted report that is being released Completion date 30 September 2014 7. Exit interviews offered to staff who have resigned in last 12 months Dave Mellish to conduct exit interviews by 30 August Completion date 31 August 2014 8. A full review of governance practices and performance of Board of Trustees Phil Hope and Tom Scollard – with NZSTA to assist in setting up an annual agenda for BOT meetings Completion date 30 August 2014 9. A complete and satisfactory processing of all formal complaints. Phil Hope and Maree Thompson to deal with this process, which has commenced and will be dealt with in accordance with school policies.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:05:31 +0000
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