Queenstown Times: Why did you want to become a WHS board member?
Sheree Horomona: "Naively, I thought it might be a good way to help my enthusiasm for kapahaka and was told by others in the Maori community, it would be as easy as asking 'What does that mean?"'
QT: What changes do you see being made to the way the school operates?
SH: "Still too early to say. It's making sure the systems we have in place are working for our students and staff."
QT: What is the biggest issue facing WHS pupils?
SH: "Similar pressures to youth all over Aotearoa. Peer pressure, sexual activity, drugs and alcohol. Who they are as people and how they are going to conduct themselves and who they want to be."
QT: What action do you want to see happen to tackle those issues?
SH: "The action will come once the board, working as a team, in consultation with the school community and with the help of the wider community, develops a strategic plan that addresses some of the issues facing our youth."
QT: How is the structure of mixing age groups in classrooms working?
SH: "It is kaupapa Maori to have age groups mixed working on tuakana/teina [older/younger], to teach leadership and support in the older children, which supports and helps the younger children.
"Despite initial teething problems, it seems to be working well."
QT: Where do you see the future location of the school - where it is, or at Frankton and if so, when?
SH: "A lot of what we are doing right now is digesting of information. I am aware we are part of the planning process.
"I'm more biased, because I live in Frankton, but whether that happens in the my children's school lifetime, it depends on the area best suited for growing needs.
"I gather it's the Ministry of Education's call. We can put forward suggestions."
QT: How would you describe the school's financial situation?
SH: "Like most schools in decile 10, our financial situation is limited by government funding, our school community's ability to pay fees and any help and support from the wider community.
"The reality is our school community are hard-working whanau who pay what and when they can, requiring the school to stick to their budgets."
QT: What feedback have you heard from the community regarding priorities to focus on?
SH: "Communication, which sometimes can be difficult if the message-deliverer is a teenage child, but this is a focus of the board.
"There was a wee bit on uniforms in the past, but I haven't heard that lately.
"Possibly the way the school communicates is a start."
QT: How can the community assist the school?
SH: "Be part of the consultation process and focus groups to help and guide the board in the direction we, as a community, would like to see our youth be supported and guided. Let us know what gaps you see, and help us with solutions and ideas."
If you have questions for the Wakatipu High School board of trustees, or have issues to raise, email your queries, with "Ask the Board" in the subject heading, to news@queenstowntimes.co.nz.
Send them to Ask the Board, Otago Daily Times, PO Box 774, Queenstown, 9348.
