Queenstown Times: Why did you want to become a WHS board member?
Alistair Nicholson: "Having kids changes your life incredibly.
Where things affect them you get a strong emotional response.
Firstly, I want great educational outcomes for my children.
The New Zealand system of democratically elected boards provided me with an opportunity to be involved.
I have been CEO of a division or entire business for most of the last 15 years.
I have been a school teacher and university lecturer.
I thought I had skills and experience to offer the community."
QT: What changes do you see making to the way the school operates?
AN: "The major focus of the board is on setting the course for the school and empowering the principal to execute the strategic plan.
The board then holds the principal and senior staff accountable for a range of outcomes.
A major focus for this board will be engaging with the community so the communities' views are reflected in the direction of the school."
QT: What is the biggest issue facing WHS pupils?
AN: "Every generation faces an increasing array of social and economic choices.
Today's kids face a much bigger array than I did.
My parents could not conceive the opportunities that I would be presented with.
So it will be for today's kids.
At high school, kids transition from children to adults, from dependency to contributing, from being guided to making choices.
Preparing students to make choices, to frame the vision for their lives, execute their plans and accept the consequences of their actions."
QT: What action do you want to see happen to tackle the issue?
AN: "Schools are in partnership with caregivers in pursuing the above."
QT: How is the structure of mixing age groups in class rooms working?
AN: "Short answer, it is too early to tell.
If it was an unmitigated disaster, we would know.
We, as a board, understand that the process around the introduction of such classes was less than the community would have liked.
However, that is what we now have.
We will look to gather feedback from staff, students and parents.
As a further general comment, we will be looking to improve information systems.
Most data that comes to the board is quite dated."
QT: Where do you see the future location of the school - where it is, or at Frankton, and if so when?
AN: "We've had one board meeting since we've been elected and it wasn't an agenda item.
As a parent, I attended a board meeting and it was mentioned draft plans were in place, but it was on a three to five-year horizon.
We don't have a lot of information.
We will be briefed by the relevant people and find out what the obligations and responsibilities of the board are.
We will engage with the community to understand what the community wants."
QT: How would you describe the school's financial situation?
AN: "Incredibly tight.
It means there's little flexibility available and you have to analyse a lot before embarking on any course of action.
Funding has changed over the years.
The whole structure of ministry [of Education] funding is school rolls are not growing, but Wakatipu High School is growing by 15% per annum.
Funding demands don't meet the funding model.
We're a decile 10 school.
We get less funding on a per head basis than a decile one school."
QT: What have you heard from the community regarding priorities to focus on?
AN: We've heard from parents and businesses.
From businesses, Queenstown is growing and they need people moving into town with families and one of the concerns of moving is the schools.
For some reason, there are a lot of negative perceptions of the school out there.
We need to measure the gap between perception and reality and it may be perception is poorly placed, in which case we can communicate that.
From parents, we get a whole raft of issues, from the state of the toilets to the range of education outcomes.
There are perceptions around education outcomes and we want to communicate clearly what the strengths are."
QT: Do you think the school communicates effectively with the community?
AN: "Historically, the evidence would suggest that we don't.
This board has set up a subcommittee to draft a communication and engagement philosophy and policy.
I expect this to be presented at the next board meeting and implemented promptly."
QT: How can the community assist the school?
AN: "Firstly, by paying any outstanding school fees.
I have already mentioned that finances are tight.
Please contact the school office if this presents any difficulty.
Secondly, we are about to engage in developing a new strategic plan for the school.
We will be sending out a questionnaire.
We will be running focus groups.
We need input from the community.
Become engaged."
ASK THE BOARD
Do you have questions for the Wakatipu High School board of trustees, or have issues you want to raise?
Email your queries, with "Ask the Board" in the subject heading, to news@queenstowntimes.co.nz.
Send them, or drop them off, with the address Ask the Board, Otago Daily Times, PO Box 774, Queenstown. 9348.
