Following the King's High School board of trustees meeting on July 6, to decide the school's stance on an enrolment scheme, the board had arranged to meet ministry staff to negotiate the way forward.
Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said that meeting did not happen.
''I understand the positions taken by both [parties], and the impact on the wider education community.
''I also understand that King's High School has made an offer to negotiate, which was knocked back by the ministry.
''There was an olive branch extended to the ministry. I don't know what it consisted of, but the fact that they've indicated a willingness means everybody should take a step back.''
While board chairman David Booth confirmed the board had offered to meet the ministry to discuss the issue, ministry sector enablement and support head Katrina Casey denied the claim.
''We haven't received any offer from the board to negotiate. We would be pleased to hear from them.
''We remain willing and open to meet with the board of trustees at any time that is convenient to them.''
Ms Curran said she was deeply concerned by the ''very public disagreement'' between King's High School and the ministry.
''I am calling on the Ministry of Education to take a step back and accept King's offer, rather than rushing into the appointment of a limited statutory manager this week, as has been reported.
''Talking and attempting to reach a settlement is a far better approach than public threats and exercising legal options.
''Surely we want to have an outcome that doesn't involve lawyers and legal battles.''
Ms Curran believed the wider community wanted the issue resolved without ''legal action and distress'' for families.
''Dunedin has high quality schools, and King's High School is one of the schools we should be proud of.
''We should celebrate success in a way that the whole community can be part of.
''I understand these issues are not easy to resolve, but I believe that a compromise can and should be found, and I expect the ministry to exercise all its skills to achieve one.''
