At least one parent fears Wakatipu High School's disruptive week could affect the school's roll, as parents make decisions on their children's secondary education.
On Wednesday, school principal Lyn Cooper was removed from her job after external employment lawyer Peter MacDonald was sent in to deal with issues among senior managers at the school.
One parent was disappointed upon learning Mrs Cooper had left.
"It is sad, because it's a great school and the kids have got incredible initiative and loads of opportunities."
The parent, who declined to be named, said parents of children at the school could send their children elsewhere, but chose to keep them in Queenstown.
"Parents here have quite high expectations and we have been encouraged not to send our kids boarding.
"It's great to keep them in the community, but with that comes a lot of responsibility on the part of the school."
The parent was not surprised Mrs Cooper had been asked to leave, because staff conflicts had not been hidden.
Henry Crawford, who has two primary-school children, said although the past week had unearthed some issues with the senior management team, he was happy the school's board of trustees had dealt with them properly.
"My impression is there's a very good board and a good chairman, and hopefully it is all going to improve from here."
Mr MacDonald was appointed in May to work with the school's senior managers after an ERO review identified a lack of trust among staff members.
Mr MacDonald released a "proposal for change" to staff on September 8, but no resolution had been reached.
The main issues highlighted in the ERO report were "divisions in communication within the senior management structure".
Mr Crawford hoped the episodes of the past month involving ERO, Mr MacDonald and the board had helped everyone "pull their socks up".
He hoped the school would improve because parents did not want to send their children away.
He and many other parents would be watching closely in the next few weeks and months as they decided where to send their children for their secondary education.
"There are some high-profile people in the district intending to send their kids there [to Wakatipu] rather than send them away, so it is looking OK for the school.
"They [the board and Mr MacDonald] have no doubt made the right decision and we all have our fingers crossed."
Mr MacDonald will meet the school's board, staff and parents on Monday to discuss the events of the past month and the future of the school's senior management team.
A committee comprising staff, members of the board and Mr MacDonald would be formed to select the new principal.
The committee would probably be chosen at a meeting on Monday.
