Waitaki Boys’ High School is to make its third attempt in less than a year at recruiting a rector.
Under a Ministry of Education statutory intervention since October 2014, the Oamaru high school has run two unsuccessful recruitment drives for the top job since December last year.
Seven applications were received for the role of rector in December last year, but the position was not filled and was re-advertised; 12 applications were received during the second attempt to fill the role in March.
However, once again the recruitment panel was unconvinced they had found a replacement for current rector Clive Rennie, school commissioner Nicola Hornsey said at the time.
In January, she appointed Mr Rennie, a retired former Otago Boys’ High School principal, who had placed his name on the ministry’s emergency principals list, as an acting rector.
After the first two attempts to recruit a permanent replacement for former rector Paul Jackson were unsuccessful, Ms Hornsey decided that "for the benefit of the students and the staff we needed to have a period of stability" and Mr Rennie agreed to extend his stay at the school to a full year.
Ms Hornsey said last week she was hopeful that in the third round of recruiting for the school’s top job, this November, the right candidate would come forward.
Appointments had been made for a boarding manager and matron for the hostel, as well as a special education needs co-ordinator, and the school’s position was "much stronger", she said.
With a sense of certainty at the school contributing to the gains made over the year under Mr Rennie’s "sterling" leadership, Ms Hornsey conceded it would be a setback if a third recruitment drive proved fruitless.
"That is one of the risks. However, I think it’s a manageable risk. We still have Clive [Rennie] in place to support any transition if it’s required," Ms Hornsey said.
"But I am also hopeful that the position itself is more attractive ... we’re making really good progress, so for someone coming in, it should look like a more attractive proposition."
The intervention at the school began following concerns about pastoral care, communications and public relations, governance good practice and employment issues at the school.
The ministry "would feel a lot more confident" calling a board election if a permanent rector was in place, Ms Hornsey said.
"Obviously, the key is to move the intervention on."
The aim is always to get back to self-governance, and this is obviously very important.
"The appointment of a permanent principal is a key part of that. And then we can take steps to get a board in place."
