Source: Radio New Zealand
A push to convert Kelston Boys’ High School in Auckland into a charter school was against the wishes of the school and its board. SUPPLIED/GOOGLE MAPS
The board of the school at the centre of an unwanted outside bid to turn it into a charter school says it hopes the same doesn’t happen anywhere else.
It was revealed on Wednesday that Bangerz Education and Wellbeing Trust (BEWT), and an ex board member co-sponsor, had abandoned their application.
Their push to convert Kelston Boys’ High School in Auckland was against the wishes of the school and its board.
After the development, the school board said the application being halted was “wonderful news”.
“We sincerely hope no other school in New Zealand will have to experience what our community has endured,” presiding member Sanalio Kaihau said.
“However, should such a situation arise, we stand ready to support others by sharing our learnings and processes.”
Kaihau said the board recognised that charter schools had a place in communities where they were needed.
He said the school’s community had shown unity and resilience and a commitment to protect its mana.
The school first took to social media last month opposing the charter school conversion bid.
“Our senior leaders and staff do NOT believe that becoming a charter school is in the best interests of our students or community, especially when it would involve so much change with a different staff, management and Board, along with a different philosophy and curriculum,” it said in a letter posted to social media.
The trust then ended its own consultation about the move, saying the school had drawn battle-lines by going public with its opposition.
It had argued a change to a charter school would solve a continuing fall in education attainment and that Ministry of Education intervention “has been ineffective”.
BEWT said Kelston Boys’ High was violent, had low achievement and attendance rates and had lost community confidence.
Kelston Boys’ High said it was a school with long-standing traditions and all-round excellence in developing exemplary young men.
Local MP Carmel Sepuloni was critical of the move, making reference to what she called “cowboy organisations” able to make charter school applications.
“It’s been done in the most unusual way, in a way where the schools have felt quite threatened, it’s been relentless,” the senior Labour MP said last month.
The Charter School Agency confirmed on Wednesday it had dropped its application.
It said it would now work with both sides to close the process.
The school board said its students “can now finish the year with confidence” and that it was getting ready for next year with renewed energy and purpose.
Siaosi Gavet, the former presiding board member co-sponsoring the bid with BEWT, did not respond to RNZ’s request for comment.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
