New claims of smear tactics over 'old' issues

Fresh allegations of a smear campaign against Northland principal Donna Donnelly have surfaced amid claims teachers left her school in droves in 2009.
Last month Education Minister Anne Tolley expressed disgust at what she called a smear campaign against Ms Donnelly after the Tikipunga Primary School principal spoke out in support of National Standards. Many Northland teachers are against the standards because of concerns about a lack of a trial period, and because some are worried subjects other than literacy and numeracy could end up being neglected.
But Mrs Donnelly is a prominent supporter of the standards. The Northern Advocate has spoken to former teachers from the school who claimed that in 2009 seven staff members had asked, in writing, to make a complaint to the board of trustees regarding a "long list" of problems. Figures supplied by the Ministry of Education show the number of teachers that had left the school was almost three times the national average.
But the New Zealand School Trustees Association says the problem was around "teachers needing to step up and not wanting to change" and the chairman of Tikipunga Primary School board of trustees, Graeme Bratty, has questioned why the issue has been raised by the teachers a year after it had been dealt with. "It seems like more than a coincidence that this has reared its head subsequent to Ms Donnelly voicing her support for National Standards," he said.
The letter accused Ms Donnelly of - among other things - speaking rudely, using threats, stifling open discussion, bullying, not providing a safe environment, not helping teachers experiencing ill health, not helping teachers with dangerous students and not allowing staff legal lunch breaks.
The letter says the teachers felt the workplace was unsafe and that was affecting their teaching and what students were learning.
It was given to the board of trustees in October last year.
The board eventually met four of the seven teachers along with a School Trustees Association industrial adviser. The group received a letter from the board of trustees saying the principal had done nothing wrong.
Five of the seven staff members who penned the letter have since left the school. Ms Donnelly arrived at the school in 2008 and an Education Review Office (ERO) report from May that year said there were 291 students at the school. The Ministry of Education has confirmed the roll now sits at about 270.
Ministry of Education spokeswoman Bev Pitkethley said normal teacher turnover rates for similar schools were between 8 and 17 per cent, or two teachers each year.
Tikipunga Primary's rate for 2008-2009 was "much higher" at 46 per cent, equating to six teachers. It was difficult to comment on the change without having more information about teacher demographics and reasons for leaving, she said.
New Zealand School Trustees Association president Lorraine Kerr said a meeting had been held with an NZSTA industrial adviser 12 months ago, and everything had been resolved. Ms Kerr said the problem was around "teachers needing to step up and not wanting to change".
"This is political. It's digging up something from 12 months ago that was resolved and I believe whoever is doing this is trying to discredit Donna."
The Northern Advocate asked the teachers union, the New Zealand Educational Institute, whether it was aware of any personal grievances, if it had any concerns about the way staff were treated at Tikipunga Primary or if it had complained to the Ministry of Education. Media officer Liz Brown said the institute would not comment.
Mr Bratty said he could not comment on the matters raised but said the board fully supported Ms Donnelly.
"She is doing a very good and professional job in a progressive fashion. The school and current staff are thriving under her and her management's leadership."