The number of Otago schools requiring Ministry of Education intervention has dropped during the past year to its lowest point since 2008.
Statistics released by the ministry under the Official Information Act show there were eight interventions at eight Otago schools in 2009, and last year the number had dropped to four at three schools.
The lowest previous number of interventions was two in 2007.
Commissioners were appointed to Totara School and Waitaki Boys' High School, while a limited statutory manager (LSM) and commissioner were appointed to Wanaka Primary School.
A commissioner has responsibility for leadership and decision-making on all issues related to the functions, duties and powers of a board of trustees.
An LSM works with an existing board and the principal in carrying out aspects of the governance role that are vested solely in them.
Ministry of Education sector enablement and support deputy secretary Katrina Casey said LSMs and commissioners were two of a wider set of statutory interventions the ministry could use when intervening at a school.
''A commissioner can be appointed to a school for a number of reasons.
''In the case of Wanaka Primary School, an LSM was appointed to the school in January 2014. After the resignation of five trustees, the remaining board members wrote to the ministry requesting the appointment of a commissioner.
''This request was supported by the LSM, whose appointment was revoked on June 12, 2014, and a commissioner was appointed to the school on the same day.''
The duration of an intervention was always determined by the complexity of the issues to be addressed, she said.
The ongoing interventions would continue as long as necessary and until the outcomes sought had been met and the appointees were no longer required.
The Otago figures are on par with nationwide statistics that show fewer than 3% of the nation's 2500 state and state integrated schools have a statutory intervention in place.
Ms Casey said the vast majority of school boards operated successfully but a small number sometimes encountered difficulties they could not resolve without help.
The circumstances and causes of those difficulties varied between schools, but problems included relationship breakdowns, employment disputes, financial concerns and curriculum provision.
''We always support school boards to resolve issues themselves, and only intervene as a last resort when we have reasonable grounds to believe that the operation of the school or the welfare or educational performance of the students is at risk.
''A statutory intervention can provide new expertise and a fresh perspective to issues that a school has been struggling to resolve.''
The objective of the statutory intervention framework was to intervene at the lowest level possible to address identified risks, and to build board capability so support could gradually be withdrawn.
''The ministry is responsible for ensuring that schools operate effectively so that students have the opportunity to achieve to their full potential.
''Our focus is always to help the school return to full self-governance as soon as possible, so it can concentrate on teaching and learning.''
She said the ministry undertook annual formal reviews of all interventions.
The number of Ministry of Education interventions in Otago schools.
2007: 2
2008: 5
2009: 8
2010: 7
2012: 7
2011: 7
2013: 5
2014: 4
Interventions 2014
Totara School: Commissioner appointed September 2013, after resignation of board of trustees and principal.
Wanaka Primary School: Limited statutory manager appointed January 2014, to help the BOT with governance issues.
Wanaka Primary School: Commissioner appointed June 2014, after the resignation of five BOT members.
Waitaki Boys' High School: Commissioner appointed October 2014, after school's BOT stood down.
