The chair of Mount Aspiring College’s (MAC) board of trustees (BOT) has resigned after just two months in the role, suggesting the board is not acting with transparency.

Glenn Peat revealed his resignation on Friday (May 1), but the Wanaka App understands he resigned 11 days ago, on April 24, and was asked by the board to take a week to consider his decision.

He was appointed to the board in July 2019 and became chair in late February 2020 when former chair Martin Toomey stood down.

“I have chosen to resign from the board of trustees because I don't believe our morals align,” Glenn told the Wanaka App.

“I believe that as the governing body of MAC, the board should not only instigate change as required, but act with honesty, integrity and transparency. 

“When I was elected to the board I felt motivated and excited to bring about positive change within the school. It became apparent that the board was continuing to take the same approach as the past while expecting a different outcome - which is not a logical process.”

The school has faced tough questions since a 2019 Education Review Office (ERO) report identified MAC overall as a “developing” school. (There are four levels: needs development, developing, well placed, and strong). The definition indicates variable conditions for student learning and variable outcomes for students.

The ERO report also said priorities for further development at MAC were building professional relationships, developing consistent systems and procedures, and building evaluation capacity.

A group of parents have raised concerns about Mount Aspiring College’s leadership and communication.

Glenn said his decision had not been taken lightly. 

“There have been several instances recently that have left me questioning the communication of the current board with the parent community - and as a businessman and a genuine person, I cannot support what I believe is an incorrect approach.”

He “needed to distance” himself from the board’s approach, he said.

In late February the BOT wrote to parents saying two key strategic goals have been prioritised since term four last year: improving the educational outcomes for all students and strengthening connections and relationships with staff, students, parents, whanau and community.

The BOT also invited people to a community information session on March 16, to inform the school community what's going on and provide an opportunity for people to give feedback.

At that meeting principal Wayne Bosley revealed he was being supported by an educational mentor, and Glenn said the board was working with the school’s senior leadership team and Wayne.

PREVIOUS

Parents air concerns at MAC meeting

Big challenges for MAC following ERO report

Before the meeting a group of about 30 parents met and identified a range of concerns about the school, including those around leadership, communication and transparency, and social/emotional well-being and behaviour policies and practices.

Principal Wayne Bosley is being supported by an educational mentor.

A group of about 25 parents co-signed a letter to the BOT on April 10 identifying its concerns and asking for a written response to each issue.

The group received a response from Wayne and the school’s senior management team, but the BOT responded in more general terms and proposed a meeting to discuss the issues.

Group convenor Ruth Heath said she had “massive concerns” about the BOT’s performance.

“It is concerning that Glenn's resignation and reasons for it are confirming our experience of the BOT, and some of the concerns in the ERO report.”

The BOT members are principal Wayne Bosley, deputy chair (and previous chair) Marty Toomey, parent reps Ed Nepia, Shona Brown and Tracey Gibson, staff rep Roy Gawn, and student rep Isobel Smith.

Neither the BOT nor Wayne had responded to the Wanaka App’s request for comment at the time of publication.