The decision ends about five months of uncertainty after two independent reports found the school ''at a point of crisis'' and unlikely to change under the present governance and management structures.
Its board of trustees stood down last night after being informed by a Ministry of Education representative, Otago-Southland regional manager Kathryn Palmer, at a special meeting - held after a vote to exclude the public - that a commissioner was expected to be named next week to run the school.
That is the highest level of intervention the ministry can take under the Education Act.
The appointment trumps a request on Monday by the board for the appointment of a limited statutory manager, with responsibility for employment and employment-related issues, communication and relationships.
Board chairman Garry McLeod last night confirmed trustees at the meeting voted unanimously to resign with immediate effect to allow for a commissioner.
He did not want to comment further. Ministry deputy secretary of sector enablement and support, Katrina Casey, said the ministry welcomed the trustees' decision to stand down.
''The ministry has decided it is in the best interests of the school, staff and students to appoint a commissioner to run the school so that serious issues can be resolved as soon as possible.''
A commissioner is appointed to a school when there are reasonable grounds to believe the operation of the school or the welfare or educational performance of the students is at serious risk.
The board of trustees is dissolved and the commissioner assumes all powers and functions of the board.
The commissioner will work with the school management team, staff and community to return to self-governance as soon as possible.
The commissioner will be responsible for addressing issues raised in the independent reports and the length of the intervention will depend on their complexity.
''Boards are responsible for managing schools and we don't intervene lightly,'' Ms Casey said.
''We gave the board time to take action to restore confidence in the school.
"The reports produced by Cleave Hay, ERO, and Mike Corkery and Alan McLay have all concluded that, without significant external support, the board is not capable of addressing the identified governance and management issues.''
