It’s election season, not just for local government but also school boards, and there has been a mix of interest in becoming a candidate among local school communities.

Mount Aspiring College (MAC) has attracted six candidates for three positions of parent representative, and Wānaka Primary School has attracted five candidates for the three roles.

However Hāwea Flat School, Take Kārara, and Holy Family School did not need to hold board elections. Hāwea Flat and Holy Family had just three nominees each for three spaces and Take Kārara had two nominees for two spaces.

MAC board chair Dr Ian Hall encouraged parents to cast their vote “as the board plays a critical role in the governance of the college”, which is now the largest in Otago with 1,204 students.

Ian described the six candidates for the three parent-elected members as well-qualified. They are Shona Brown, Ruth Heath, Jethro Robinson, Kurt Sanford, Niamh Shaw, and Kim Tomlin. 

Find out more about each candidate here.

The college has survived a tumultuous period from 2020-2021, including an Education Review Office report critical of the college, changes to the board and staff, and the disruption of the pandemic and, Ian said, he was happy to advise the school had received a positive report from ERO.

The board election will take place via online voting and the results will be known on September 14.

Election day for Wānaka Primary School is next Wednesday (September 7). Read more about the candidates (Brendan Hearle, Mitch Campbell, Niamh Shaw, Stephanie Welch, and Francis Jasper) here.

Holy Family School has appointed the following three candidates: Rebecca McElrea, Lucy Annan, and Anna Findlay.

Hāwea Flat School has appointed Corey Wilson, Paula Shortall, and Paul Collins.

PHOTO: Wānaka App