Principal returns to Wakatipu High School

Lyn Cooper
Lyn Cooper
The woman controversially removed from her job as principal of Wakatipu High School in September will return to work at the school on Monday.

Lyn Cooper, who was asked to leave from the top position at the end of last term, had lodged a claim with the Employment Relations Authority and had been in mediation with the man who removed her, external employment lawyer, Peter MacDonald.

Mr MacDonald was contracted by the Ministry of Education after the Educational Review Office filed a damning report in regard to senior management of the school.

Board of Trustee member Greg Turner yesterday said an agreement had been reached between Mrs Cooper and the statutory manager.

At the school's new entrant orientation day, stand-in principal Paul O'Connor addressed parents and teachers and announced Mrs Cooper would come back in a "shared role" with him for the remainder of the 2011 school year.

Mrs Cooper, principal for nearly four years, would not be returning next year, he said.

Under a confidentiality agreement it is up to Mrs Cooper to reveal the terms of her reinstatement.

Mr Turner said the terms of the agreement still remain a "mystery".

Mr O'Connor and Mrs Cooper have both worked in Invercargill during similar time frames at James Hargest High School and Verdon College respectively. Mr Turner said from talking to Mr O'Connor, the pair were comfortable working together in the interim period.

Senior students at the school are now undergoing their NCEA examinations and the school year officially ends on December 13.

Mrs Cooper and Mr MacDonald could not be reached for comment.

 

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