The East Coast school at which convicted sex offender Euan Trafford Hovell taught is offering counselling to staff, students and their families.
Justice Peter Salmon yesterday lifted name suppression on Hovell, aged 67, in the High Court at Gisborne.
He pleaded guilty last month to 22 charges of indecent assault and 23
charges of inducing his victims to do an indecent act.
The charges related to incidents with boys aged between 5 and 13, and took place from 1966 to 1989.
Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School spokesman Willie Te Aho said Hovell last taught at the school in Te Araroa, 42km north of Ruatoria, in the 1980s.
The priority of the board of trustees and the principal was to the staff, students and their whanau, he said.
It was important for the principal and board not to be distracted, but "equally, it is important that there are support systems in place for any implications that may arise".
"The philosophy of the school is whakapono ki a koe, which ensures values such as aroha [love], manaaki [showing kindness or respect] and wairua [attitude] are the basis of student success and achievement."
The school was working with Te Runanga o Ngati Porou Iwi Social Services and other support services to ensure appropriate services were available.
The Ministry of Education had ensured that resources, including specialist counselling, were available for the school, Mr Te Aho said.
Hovell was remanded on bail for sentencing in the High Court at Auckland on October 29.
- NZPA
