Queenstown Times: Why did you want to become a WHS board member?
Jeremy Bell: "I wanted to become a member of the Wakatipu High School board of trustees so that I could help to improve my school and bring a student's perspective to board decisions.
"Because Wakatipu High School is the only secondary school in the area, we need to provide the students with as many opportunities as possible in all areas."
QT: What changes do you see making to the way the school operates?
JB: "At the moment we, the board, are completing the strategic plan, which will help us see the changes that we need to make so that the school can function at its best."
QT: What is the biggest issue facing WHS pupils?
JB: "I believe the biggest issue facing our students is that it is getting harder to get accepted into university. This means that our students need to work harder to achieve to this standard."
QT: What action do you want to see happen to tackle the issue?
JB: "I think that students need to become aware that the world is a changing place and that just getting achieved is not enough to get into university. The more merits and excellences, the easier it is to get accepted."
QT: How is the structure of mixing age groups in classrooms working?
JB: "As with any change, there are people for and against this issue. Personally, I think that in a few years, when these students in the mixed-age classrooms are sitting NCEA, will be when we will know if it's working or not."
QT: Where do you see the future location of the school - where it is, or at Frankton, and if so when?
JB: "At the moment, the school is staying where it is. But in the near future - 10 years - if the roll continues to increase, then the school will need to be moved to another site. However, exactly where the school will move to, I'm not sure."
QT: How would you describe the school's financial situation?
JB: "As with many schools in the country, we are on a tight budget.
"This budget is being changed rapidly because of our fluctuating number of students at the school. Because of this fluctuation we are under-funded by the ministry.
"If we received appropriate funding, then our students world benefit greatly."
QT: What feedback have you heard from the community regarding priorities to focus on?
JB: "The main feedback we are getting is that there is a lack of communication between the school and the parents and the wider community.
Therefore, we as a board created a communications task force made up of board members to improve our communication with the community."
QT: Are they your priorities?
JB: "I believe that the more the community knows about what's going on at the school, the more they will be able to assist us and help to improve the school for future Wakatipu High School students."
QT: Do you think the school communicates effectively with the community?
JB: "There is a definite need for an improvement in the way the school communicates with the community. The way the school currently communicates needs further development and to be improved.
QT: How can the community assist the school?
JB: "The Wakatipu and the people in it are willing to help when needed, and I believe that our students benefit greatly from parents putting their
hand up and helping either coach a team, teach an instrument or helping with fundraising.
"If the community continues to assist in these ways, it would be greatly appreciated."
•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.nzSend them, or drop them off, with the address Ask the Board, Otago Daily Times, PO Box 774, Queenstown, 9348.
