Wakatipu High School principal resigns

Lyn Cooper
Lyn Cooper
Wakatipu High School's discarded and rehired principal has now resigned.

Former principal Lyn Cooper announced her decision to resign at a staff meeting yesterday and said she would not be returning to the school next year.

As a result of a damning report by the Educational Review Office, Ms Cooper was asked to leave in September by external employment lawyer Peter MacDonald, who was contracted by the Ministry of Education.

Feeling unfairly dismissed, Ms Cooper then lodged a claim with the Employment Relations Authority and consequently was reappointed as co-principal with stand-in principal Paul O'Connor early last month.

Yesterday, the school's board of trustees acknowledged the events over the past few months and Ms Cooper's dismissal by the limited statutory manager were "unfortunate".

"[We] regret both the course of events and the effect this has had on Ms Cooper," a statement read.

"The events of the last few months should not overshadow the contribution that Ms Cooper has made to Wakatipu High School."

Mr O'Connor confirmed at the school's junior prizegiving on Thursday he would be returning as acting principal for the beginning of the 2012 year.

The board, along with Mr MacDonald, would appoint the new principal in time for term two.

 

 

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