Kawerau School closer to opening

The Ministry of Education has announced its one step closer to opening the new Year 7-13 Kawerau School with the appointment of the school’s board of trustees.

The new school is expected to opening by term one next year and will be located on the current Kawerau College site.

The ministry’s acting central North Island regional manager Chris Day says there will new and refurbished buildings on the site, with separate campuses for middle and senior school students.

“The establishment board will play an essential role in developing quality education at the school.

“They will determine the school’s philosophy, purpose, governance practices, and appoint the principal and other staff. The members were chosen because of their wide range of skills, experiences, and community relationships.”

The five members of the board are Warwick Godfery, Elizabeth Pennington, Miriama Postlethwaite, Aaron Rangihika and Helen Stewart.

Board nominations were sought from a range of parties including schools, education and community organisations.

“I am pleased the board is comprised of people with strong connections to the Kawerau community and are well placed to ensure the new school reflects their needs and aspirations,” says Chris.

The Year 7-13 school was established following consultation on how to reorganise Kawerau schools to provide the best possible education for students.

A the beginning of 2010, then Education Minister Anne Tolley announced she was going to merge the schools in Kawerau due to falling roll numbers.

She presented the community with three options and requested feedback from the public on these options before making a decision.

Anne then decided to merge Kawerau Intermediate and Kawerau College, as well as amalgamating three primary schools to one.

Chris says the establishment board is expected to be in place for about eighteen months from its appointment.

He says by this time the school should be well established and interested people will have had time to consider standing for board elections.